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Product Name: Mercury Fulminate, wet, containing not less than 20% water or mixture of ethanol and water by mass
Chemical Formula: C-Hg-N-O
Common Synonym: Mercury(II) Fulminate
Appearance: White to gray crystalline powder, dampened to prevent ignition
Physical Hazards: Explosive risk, even wet; mechanical shock, impact, friction, static discharge can set it off
Health Hazards: Severe toxicity through skin absorption, inhalation, ingestion; mercury poisoning risk
Environmental Hazards: Mercury compounds create long-term harm to aquatic life; spills contaminate soil and water
GHS Classification: Explosive (Division 1.1); Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin, or inhaled; Highly toxic to aquatic life
Mercury Fulminate: 80% or less by mass, concentration controlled by water or ethanol-water mix
Water or Ethanol-Water Mix: 20% or more by mass, used to keep the mixture stable and less prone to detonation
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air immediately; urgent medical attention for difficulty breathing or respiratory distress
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse skin thoroughly for at least 15 minutes, seek medical help
Eye Contact: Rinse with water for at least 20 minutes, lift eyelids occasionally, immediate medical intervention
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; medical professionals should handle any ingestion urgently
General Advice: Mercury poisoning can show up as delayed symptoms, so monitoring for neurological issues is critical
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Flood area with water from as far away as possible, but keep distance due to explosion risk
Hazards from Combustion: Explosions happen easily and rapidly; toxic mercury vapor and nitrogen oxides spread in smoke
Firefighter Protection: Full body protection, self-contained breathing apparatus; withdrawal if fire gets close to stored material
Evacuation Procedures: Clear the area, restrict access, use non-sparking tools, control ignition sources
Containment Procedures: Carefully scoop up and transfer for wet storage; avoid drying out the material
Cleanup: Saturated rags or absorbents need to stay wet until disposal; avoid creation of dust
Environmental Precautions: Prevent runoff into water, sewer, or soil; mercury can contaminate large areas and persist for decades
Handling: Only work in specialized facilities with trained staff; never handle dry unless absolutely necessary
Storage: Keep tightly closed in secure, cool, and well-ventilated space, segregated from flammables, acids, oxidizers
Storage Conditions: Minimum 20% water or water-ethanol mix to suppress explosion risk; inspect containers frequently
Engineering Controls: Work under negative pressure hoods, spark-proof equipment, dedicated mercury fulminate workspaces
Personal Protective Equipment: Impermeable gloves, chemical splash goggles, flame-resistant suit, boots, and a certified respirator
Decontamination: Remove contaminated clothing and launder before reuse; showers and eye-wash stations must be available
Exposure Limits: Mercury compounds usually have very low limits—workplace air usually must not exceed 0.025 mg/m³ (as mercury) time-weighted average
Form: Crystalline powder, kept wet to reduce explosive sensitivity
Color: White to gray, sometimes yellowing over time
Odor: Odorless
Solubility: Slight in water, more in ethanol
Density: Roughly 4.4 g/cm³ in pure form
Explosive Limits: Ignites and detonates at relatively low temperatures or mechanical shock
Chemical Stability: Decomposition starts at elevated temperatures, drying makes it far more dangerous
Potentially Incompatible Materials: Heat, friction, oxidizing materials, acids, alkalis, metallic powders, combustibles
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Mercury vapors, nitrogen oxides, toxic gases
Reactivity: Extremely sensitive to shock, impact, static, and heat; even wet, it’s considered more treacherous than most commercial explosives
Short-Term Exposure: Skin and eye irritant; inhalation or skin contact can cause acute mercury poisoning—tremors, headaches, kidney damage
Long-Term Exposure: Chronic mercury exposure can lead to neurological disorders, memory loss, mood disturbance, tremors; symptoms often emerge slowly
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation of dust, skin absorption, accidental ingestion
Symptoms: Tingling, numbness, muscular incoordination, vision and hearing changes, renal impairment
Special Concerns: Mercury bioaccumulates, so repeated handling without protection raises personal and communal risks significantly
Mercury Contamination: Aquatic ecosystems become poisoned for generations—mercury persists and moves up the food chain, leading to fish, birds, mammals, and humans suffering toxic effects
Toxicity Levels: Acute and chronic aquatic toxicity, very harmful to micro-organisms, fish, and aquatic birds; takes only trace quantities to have outsized impact
Environmental Fate: Mercury spreads rapidly, binding to soil and sediment, where microbes can convert it to far more toxic organic forms
Disposal Method: Handle as hazardous waste; approved chemical incineration or specialized mercury reclamation recommended; never landfill or sewer
Contaminated Packaging: Containers holding residues or contaminated PPE get handled as hazardous waste and follow similar procedures
Regulatory Constraints: Most countries make unauthorized disposal of mercury compounds a serious criminal offense; trace mismanagement can close down a site or lead to huge fines
UN Number: UN 0135 (Explosives, Division 1.1A)
Risk Classification: Explosive, with restrictions for air, sea, or land; only licensed professionals, regulated containers, and strictly defined routes allowed
Packaging Groups: Highest hazard level—special packaging, warning labels, multi-agency oversight
Other Requirements: Escorts and emergency plans often compulsory—any accident triggers mandatory environmental agency notification
Local Regulations: Most countries classify all mercury compounds, especially mercury fulminate, as highly restricted; licenses for use, storage, and disposal generally demanded
Workplace Standards: Once mercury is detected, agencies like OSHA, NIOSH, and their international counterparts step in quickly with monitoring, remediation, and worker health screening
Ban and Restriction Trends: Worldwide moves to phase out mercury in favor of less toxic, less persistent chemicals, but heritage sites and certain mining operations still hold legacy material
Public Health Impact: Strict laws aim to protect not just workers but also downstream communities from exposure and contamination, underscoring mercury’s recognized standing as a generational toxin
