Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
mercury fulminate

mercury fulminate

1 9.9
A very sensitive explosive used in small caps to start larger explosions
  • noun
  • /ˈmɜrkjʊri ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fulminato de mercurio

Examples

  • After that, the mercury fulminate will detonate the explosive.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The technician carefully handled the mercury fulminate to avoid accidental detonation.

  • In safety drills, we learned how to properly store mercury fulminate in a secure container.

  • Mercury fulminate is commonly used as a primary explosive in various types of detonators.

Synonyms

explosive compound
vsmercury fulminate
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A chemical that can explode and cause a sudden violent reaction

is the specific highly sensitive primary detonator form of such chemicals
fulminate of mercury
vsmercury fulminate
  • Specialized
9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in detonators and percussion caps

is the same compound but lists its chemical formula explicitly
fulminating mercury
vsmercury fulminate
  • Specialized
9.9

A very unstable chemical that explodes easily when hit or heated and people use in small explosive devices

is the same sensitive primary detonator compound rather than a general explosive

Surface Forms

mercury fulminate singular
mercury fulminates plural

Morphology

mercury + fulminate

The phrase denotes the fulminate (explosive salt) of the element mercury, so a learner who knows 'mercury' (the metal) and 'fulminate' (an unstable explosive salt) can straightforwardly infer it is an explosive compound containing mercury. This follows regular noun–noun chemical naming patterns and is compositional and predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Mercury fulminate comes from its parts: mercury, the metal, and fulminate, a word that used to mean 'lightning'. That's why the material, which makes a sudden flash and loud bang when it explodes, was used as a very sensitive explosive to 'set off' larger charges.