Explosive Molecular Ionic Crystals
- 7 July 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 245 (4913) , 37-42
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.245.4913.37
Abstract
In ionic crystals of the form M+X-, certain covalently bonded anion groups X- are particularly associated with instability. The heavier metal cations M+ enhance this. Very sensitive explosives occur within the extended azide family, where X- = CNO-, N3-, NCO-, or NCS- (an isoelectronic set of unsaturated linear triatomic anions). Another such family are the globular oxyanions X- = ClO2-, ClO3-, ClO4-, NO3-, and MnO4-. Mishandling of NH4NO3 or NH4ClO4 has caused major disasters. An irreversible cyclic mechanism is proposed for such decomposition, involving mechanoelectronic band-gap excitation and coalescence of X with X-. From an intracrystalline ion-molecule collision complex, the singly charged dianion X2-, exothermic reactions proceed with high yield.Keywords
This publication has 49 references indexed in Scilit:
- Thermal decomposition of ammonium permanganateJournal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 1987
- Fragmentation of cyano compounds under nonlinear UV excitation: delayed cyanogen B2.SIGMA.+ chemiluminescence through ion-molecule collisionsThe Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1987
- Structures of the barium salt of 2,4,6-trinitro-1,3-benzenediol monohydrate and the isomorphous lead salt (β-polymorph)Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 1982
- A redetermination of the silver fulminate structureActa Crystallographica Section B: Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 1979
- Static Properties of the Self‐Trapped Hole in Simple Cubic Cesium HalidesPhysica Status Solidi (b), 1976
- Stability of ammonium halates in the solid state: Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of ammonium iodateJournal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 1971
- Thermal decomposition of ammonium chlorateThe Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1969
- Triboluminescence of Some Alkali Halide CrystalsPhysica Status Solidi (b), 1969
- Decomposition of inorganic fulminatesTransactions of the Faraday Society, 1969
- Emission of ultra-violet rays by chemical reactionsTransactions of the Faraday Society, 1939