Fulminating An′timony

Syn. Pyrophorus of antimony , L. Prep. Tartar emetic (dried), 100 parts; lampblack or charcoal powder, 3 parts; triturate together, put it into a crucible that it will three fourths fill (previously rubbed inside with charcoal powder), cover it with a layer of dry charcoal powder, and lute on the cover; after 3 hours’ exposure to a strong heat in a ‘reverberatory furnace,’ and 6 or 7 hours’ repose to allow it to cool, ., cautiously transfer the solid contents of the crucible, as quickly as po ible, without breaking it, to a wide-mouthed stoppered phial, where, after some time, it will spontaneously crumble down into a powder. Obs. When the above proce is properly conducted, the resulting powder contains pota ium, and fulminates violently on contact with water. A piece the size of a pea introduced into a ma of gunpowder explodes it on being thrown into water, or on its being moistened in any other manner.