mercury fulminate

noun

: a crystalline compound Hg(ONC)₂ that when dry explodes violently on percussion or heating, that is usually made by reaction of mercury, alcohol, and nitric acid, and that is used in blasting caps, percussion caps, and detonators

called also fulminating mercury

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!