Products of the Radiation-Chemical and Thermal Decomposition of Mercury Fulminate

The products of the radiation-chemical and thermal decomposition of mercury fulminate were examined by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Upon radiolysis to 20% conversion, the fulminate ion underwent decomposition (G (decomposition) = 20 molecule/100 eV) with the formation of HgO (G = 9 ± 1 molecule/100 eV), CN^– ions, and CO₂. The final solid products of the radiolysis are Hg(CNH)₂, a cyanide complex, the mercury carbonate oxide HgCO₃ · 3HgO, the mercury cyanide oxide Hg(CN)₂ · HgO, and paracyanogen (CN)_n. In the thermolysis, the final solid products of decomposition are the mercury carbonate oxide HgCO₃ · 2HgO, a cyanide complex, and the cluster Hg_nC_mN_oO_p.