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Fulminating silver is a historic name which may apply to a number of silver based explosives which "fulminate" or detonate easily and violently. It has no exact chemical or dictionary definition, but may refer to:

• silver fulminate (which, confusingly, is the only "fulminating silver" to be a silver compound with the fulminate anion)
• silver azide, AgN₃
• a mixture, a decomposition product of Tollens' reagent
• silver nitride, Ag₃N - one of the earliest silver based explosives
• the alchemical substance "Argentum Fulminans"

The stability of many of these compounds can vary depending on how they are stored or handled, with levels of hydration often being a major factor.

References

1. Ennis, John L.; Shanley, Edward S. (January 1991). "On hazardous silver compounds". Journal of Chemical Education. 68 (1): A6. Bibcode:1991JChEd..68....6E. doi:10.1021/ed068pA6.

• Set index articles on chemistry
• Fulminates
• Silver compounds