519 lines
21 KiB
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519 lines
21 KiB
Plaintext
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Field Expedient Methods for Explosives Preparation
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Desert Publications MCMLXXVII ISBN 0-87947-207-3
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Transcribed to the electronic media for you by Thallion of WUF MCMXCIV.
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Table of Contents:
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Section I
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Field Expedient Methods for Explosives Preparation................ 1.0
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Preparation of Lead Picrate..................................... 1.1
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Preparation of Picric Acid from Aspirin......................... 1.2
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Tetramminecopper(II)Chlorate.................................... 1.3
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Potassium (or Sodium) Nitrite and Litharge (Lead Monoxide)...... 1.4
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Preparation of Copper Sulfate (Pentahydrate).................... 1.5
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Reclamation of RDX From C-4..................................... 1.6
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Section II
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Laboratory Methods for Preparing Promising Explosives............. 2.0
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Lead Azide...................................................... 2.1
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Nitrourea....................................................... 2.2
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Mannitol Hexanitrate, Nitromannitol............................. 2.3
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Lead Nitranilate................................................ 2.4
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Chloratotrimercuriacetaldehyde.................................. 2.5
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Trishydrazinezinc(II)Nitrate.................................... 2.6
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Fulminating Silver.............................................. 2.7
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Diamminesilver(I)Chlorate....................................... 2.8
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Triacetonetriperoxide........................................... 2.9
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1.0 Section I
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Field Expedient Methods for Explosives Preparation
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1.1 Preparation of Lead Picrate
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Lead picrate is used as a primary explosive in the fabrication of
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detonators. It is to be used with a booster explosive such as picric acid
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or RDX.
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MATERIAL REQUIRED (For 1 detonator):
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Litharge (lead monoxide) (field prepared; also is used in plumbing and
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ceramic cements)
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Picric acid (field prepared)
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Wood alcohol (methanol) (some antifreezers and paint removers)
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Wooden or plastic rod
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Dish or saucer (china or glass)
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Teaspoon
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PROCEDURE:
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1. Weigh out 2 grams (or equal amounts) by weight of picric
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acid and lead monoxide.
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2. Add the picric acid to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of
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methanol in a container (dish or saucer) and stir.
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3. Add lead monoxide and stir.
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4. Continue stirring and allow the alcohol to evaporate.
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NOTE: The mixture will suddenly thicken.
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5. Carefully break up this mixture ad stir occasionally until
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a powder is formed (a few lumps will remain).
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6. Remove and spread out to air dry. NOTE: If possible, dry
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at 100 degrees C (212 F) for two hours.
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1.2 Preparation of Picric Acid from Aspirin
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Picric acid can be used as a booster explosive in detonators or as an
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intermediate to preparing lead picrate or DDNP.
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MATERIAL REQUIRED:
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Aspirin, 20 tablets (5 grain/tablet)
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Alcohol - 95 percent pure
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Concentrated sulfuric acid (boil battery acid until white fumes appear)
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Potassium nitrate (Saltpeter)
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Water
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Canning jar (1 pint)
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Hot water bath
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Paper towels (for filter)
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Glass tube or rod
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Glass containers
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Dish (ceramic or glass)
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Heat source
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Cup
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Teaspoon
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PROCEDURE:
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1. Crush 20 tablets of Aspirin in a glass container and
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work into a paste with a teaspoon of water.
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2. Add approximately 1/3-1/2 cup (100 milliliters) of
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alcohol with stirring and filter through a paper towel
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into another glass container.
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NOTE: If aspirin is pure enough (usually cheap priced
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aspirin are) then steps 1, 2 and 3 can be omitted and
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you can proceed and add crushed aspirin to sulfuric acid.
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3. Discard the solid left on the paper and pour the liquid
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from the container into the dish. Evaporate the alcohol
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and water on a hot water bath, leaving a white powder.
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4. Add this white powder to 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of
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concentrated sulfuric acid in a canning jar.
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5. Heat the jar in a simmering hot water bath for 15
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minutes and remove. Stir; solution will gradually turn
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black.
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6. Add 3 level teaspoons (15 grams) of potassium nitrate
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in three portions with vigorous stirring. After heating
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put jar in cold H2O and add KNO3.
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7. Allow the yellow-orange solution to cool to room
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temperature with intermittent stirring. Solution is
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darker than yellow-orange.
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8. Pour the solution into 1.25 cups (300 milliliters) of
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water (cold if possible) and allow to cool. Upon
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pouring, solution is now yellow-orange.
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9. Filter the mixture through a paper towel and wash the
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light yellow material (picric acid) with 1/8 cup (25
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milliliters) of water through paper towel. Takes
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considerable time to filter if genuine filter paper is
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used.
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10. Dry at 160-200 degrees F for two hours. The yield is
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4.0-4.5 grams.
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1.3 Tetramminecopper(II)Chlorate
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Tetramminecopper(II)chlorate is a primary explosive that can be made from
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sodium chlorate, copper sulfate and ammonia. This explosive when used with
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a booster is capable of detonating composition C-4.
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MATERIAL REQUIRED:
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Sodium chlorate (Obtain as medicine, weed killer, defoliant,
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or by field method)
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Copper sulfate (Obtain as insecticide, water purifying agent,
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or by field method)
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Ammonium hydroxide (Obtain as household ammonia or smelling salts)
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Alcohol - 95% pure
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Wax or clay
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Water
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Narrow mouth bottle (wine or coke)
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Wide mouth bottles (mason jars)
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Tubing (rubber, copper, steel)
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Teaspoon
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Heat source
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Paper towel (for filter)
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Pan
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PROCEDURE:
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1. Measure 1/3 teaspoon (2.5 grams) of sodium chlorate in
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a wide mouth bottle, then add 10 teaspoons of alcohol.
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2. Add 1 teaspoon (4 grams) of copper sulfate and stir the
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mixture just under the boiling point for 30 minutes
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(heat can be supplied by a pan of hot water). The mixture
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will change color. NOTE: Keep solution away from flame.
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3. Keep volume of the solution constant by adding additional
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alcohol about every ten minutes. Remove solution and let
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cool. Filter through folded paper towels into another
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wide mouth bottle. Keep the liquid.
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4. Add 1 cup (250 milliliters) of ammonia to the narrow
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mouth bottle. Placing tubing so that it extends about
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1.25 inches inside bottle, then seal tubing to bottle
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with wax (pitch, clay etc.).
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5. Place tubing into solution from step (3) as indicated
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in the [ASCII] picture [below]. Heat bottle containing
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ammonia in a pan of hot water (not boiling) for about
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10 minutes.
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_________________________________
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//-------------------------------\\ <-- Tubing
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// \\
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// \\
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--||-- <-- Wax Seal \\
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/ || \ \\
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/ || \ \\
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|__________| | \\ |
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| | |------\ \--------|
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| Ammonia | | \_\ |
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___|__________|___ | |
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| | | Solution |
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| Hot Water | |_________________|
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|________________|
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6. Bubble ammonia gas through solution until the color of
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the solution changes from a light green to a dark blue
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(approximately 10 minutes) and continue bubbling for
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another ten minutes.
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* CAUTION: At this point the solution is a primary
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explosive. Keep away from flame.
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7. Reduce the volume of the solution to about 1/3 of its
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original volume by evaporating in the air or in a
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stream of air.
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8. Filter crystals through a folded paper towel and wash
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once with one teaspoon alcohol, dry overnight (16 hours).
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* CAUTION: Explosive is shock and flame sensitive.
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Store in a capped container.
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1.4 Potassium (or Sodium) Nitrite and Litharge (Lead Monoxide)
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Either of the nitrites are needed to prepare DDNP and litharge is required
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for the preparation of lead picrate.
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MATERIAL REQUIRED:
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Lead metal (small pieces or chips)
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Potassium (or sodium) nitrate
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Wood (methyl) alcohol
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Iron pipe with closed end or cap (one end only)
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Iron rod (screwdriver)
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Paper towels
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Glass jars, wide mouth (2 each)
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Heat source (such as hot coals or blow torch)
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Cup
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PROCEDURE:
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1. Mix 12 grams of lead and 4 grams of potassium (or sodium)
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nitrate. Place the mixture in the iron container (iron
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pipe) and heat in a hot bed of coals or by a blow torch
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for an hour or more.
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2. Remove the container and allow to cool. Chip out the
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yellow solid with the screwdriver and add to 1/2 cup (120
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milliliters) of methyl alcohol in the jar. Orange-brown
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solid, cream color in alcohol.
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3. Heat the mixture in a pan of hot water until it reacts.
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Solution turns darker upon heating.
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4. Filter the mixture through a paper towel into the second
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jar.
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5. The solid left on the paper is lead monoxide. Wash it
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through paper twice, using 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) hot
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water each time and air dry before using in explosive
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preparation (for example, lead picrate).
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6. place the jar with the liquid in the hot water and heat
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until alcohol has evaporated. The remaining powder is
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the nitrite, snowy liquid; some white powder appears,
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but not much.
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* NOTE: Sodium nitrite has a strong tendency to pick up
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water from the atmosphere and should be stored in a
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closed container.
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1.5 Preparation of Copper Sulfate (Pentahydrate)
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Copper sulfate is a required material for the preparation of TAC.
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MATERIAL REQUIRED:
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Copper wire or pieces
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Sulfuric acid (battery)
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Potassium nitrate or nitric acid (field grades)
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Alcohol
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Water
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Two heat resistant glasses or jars, one pint
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Paper towels
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Metal pan (for hot water bath)
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Wooden rod
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Cup
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PROCEDURE:
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1. Place 10 grams of copper into one of the jars and add one
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cup (240 milliliters) of sulfuric (battery) acid. To this
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mixture add 12 grams of potassium nitrate, or 1.5
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teaspoons of nitric acid. NOTE: Nitric acid gives a
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product of greater purity.
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2. Heat the mixture on a hot water bath (near boiling) until
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the bubbling has ceased (requires about two hours).
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* CAUTION: This reaction evolves strong toxic fumes, and
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therefore must be performed in an open, well
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ventilated area.
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3. Pour the hot blue liquid into a second vessel (keeping
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the unreacted copper in the first jar) and allow to cool
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at room temperature.
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4. After the crystals have formed, carefully pour away the
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liquid and crush the crystals. Then add 1/2 cup (120
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milliliters) of alcohol to the powder and stir.
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5. Pour the solution through the towel filter and wash the
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solid left on the paper three times, using 1/2 cup (120
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milliliters) portions of the alcohol each time.
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6. Allow the product to air dry for two hours.
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1.6 Reclamation of RDX From C-4
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RDX can be used as a booster explosive for detonators or as a high
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explosive charge.
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MATERIAL REQUIRED:
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Gasoline
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C-4
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Wide mouth jars, one pint (2 each)
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Paper towels
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Wooden stirring rod
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Teaspoon
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PROCEDURE:
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1. Place 1 teaspoon (10 grams) of C-4 in the pint jar and
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add one cup (240 milliliters) of gasoline.
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2. Knead and stir the C-4 with the rod until the C-4 has
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broken up. Allow to stand 1/2 hour.
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3. Start the stirring again until a fine white powder
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remains on the bottom of the container.
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4. Filter the mixture through a paper towel and wash the
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solid left on the paper with 1/2 cup (120 milliliters)
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of gasoline.
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5. Air dry for several hours or heat at 80-100 centigrades
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(about 150-212 degrees F) for one hour.
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2.0 Section II
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Laboratory Methods for Preparing Promising Explosives
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2.1 Lead Azide
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Preparation of Hydrazinium sulfate.
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2 NH + NaOCl + H SO ---> N H * H SO + NaCl + H O
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3 2 4 2 4 2 4 2
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One-hundred-forty-one ml of Chlorox bleach (5.25 percent NaOCl) was added
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to 200 ml of 20 percent ammonium hydroxide and 5 ml of 1 percent limewater
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Ca(OH)2 in one liter Erlenmeyer flask. The mixture was rapidly heated to
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boiling and maintained until the volume was reduced to about half, which
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required about one-half hour. The solution was rapidly cooled and dilute
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sulfuric acid was added until a pH of 7-8 has attained and the precipitate
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that formed was separated by filtration. The cold filtrate was strongly
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acidified with 40 percent sulfuric acid. The white precipitate was
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filtered, washed with methanol and air dried. Melting point 254 degrees C
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(lit. 254 degrees C).
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Preparation of Isopropyl Nitrite
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A mixture of 45 ml concentrated sulfuric acid, 30 ml water and 110 ml
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isopropyl alcohol, previously cooled to 0 centigrades, was added to an ice
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cold solution of 114 grams of sodium nitrite in 450 ml of H2O. Slow
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addition required about two hours in order to maintain a temperature around
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0 centigrades. The upper oily layer was separated and washed three times
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with 30 ml portions of 5 gram 100 ml sodium bicarbonate solution and 22
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grams NaCl 100 ml solution respectively.
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Preparation of Sodium Azide
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N H * H O + NaOH + C H ONO ---> NaN + C H OH + 3H O
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2 4 2 4 9 2 3 4 9 2
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Five grams of caustic soda (NaOH) was dissolved in 50 ml if ethyl alcohol
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(3A), and the clear portion was decanted in a 100 ml distilling flask
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containing 6 ml of hydrazine hydrate. After adding one ml of butyl nitrite
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(or isopropyl nitrite) the mixture was heated on a steam bath to initiate
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the reaction. Twelve ml more of the nitrite was slowly added in such a
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manner that the mixture refluxed slowly. Addition required about one hour
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and the mixture was heated an additional fifteen minutes. The reaction
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flask was cooled and the solid product collected on a filter. The product
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was washed with alcohol and air dried. Recrystallization from water yielded
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white crystalline material.
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Preparation of Lead Azide
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The following solutions were prepared:
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Solution A: 0.20 g of sodium azide
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0.006 g of sodium hydroxide
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7 ml water
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Solution B: 0.96 g Pb(NO3)2
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0.04 g Dextrin
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9 ml water
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Solution B was brought to a pH of 5 by adding dilute NaOH.
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Solution B was brought to 60 centigrades and solution A was slowly added
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with stirring. The mixture was allowed to stir till ambient temperature was
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attained and the solid azide collected on a filter. After washing with
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water and air drying the product weighed 0.4 grams. This product was found
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capable of initiating RDX when incorporated in a No. 6 blasting cap.
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2.2 Nitrourea
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Preparation of Urea Nitrate
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Twenty-five ml of concentrated nitric acid was added dropwise to an ice
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cold solution of 5.0 grams urea in 25 ml of water. The white precipitate
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was collected in a Buchner funnel and washed with ice cold nitric acid.
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After drying at 100 centigrades for one hour, yield was 9.2 grams.
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Preparation of Nitrourea
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Nine (9.0) grams of the above product, urea nitrate, was added portionwise
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to 32 ml of ice cold (-3 centigrades) concentrated sulfuric acid at such a
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rate that the temperature did not exceed 5 centigrades. Total time for
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addition was approximately one-half hour, after which the mixture was
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poured on 75 grams of ice. The white precipitate was filtered, washed with
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ice cold water, just sufficient to cover it, and air dried. Material
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obtained weighed 5.3 grams and melted with decomposition at 157-158 centi-
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grades. (lit. 158-159 centigrades).
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2.3 Mannitol Hexanitrate, Nitromannitol
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Ten grams of mannitol was added portionwise to 50 ml of concentrated nitric
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acid keeping the temperature at 0 centigrades. 100 ml concentrated sulfuric
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acid was then added dropwise maintaining temperature around 0 centigrades.
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The slurry was filtered, washed with water and a dilute Na2CO2 and water
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again, until washings were neutral. Products were air dried and had a
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melting point of 113-115 centigrades (lit. 112-113 centigrades).
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2.4 Lead Nitranilate
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Preparation of Chloranil
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A slurry of 5.0 grams of salicylic acid and 100 ml of concentrated
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hydrochloric acid was heated to 80 centigrades and 5.0 grams of potassium
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chlorate added in portions (with effervescence). An additional 400 ml of
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concentrated hydrochloric acid and 5.0 grams potassium chlorate was added
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and the mixture allowed to heat at 80-90 centigrades for four hours. After
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filtering, washing with water, and air drying, the yellow crystals melted
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at 190-200 centigrades (sealed tube). The yield was 5.45 grams.
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Preparation of Sodium Nitranilate
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A mixture of 5.0 grams of chloranil and 200 ml of ethyl alcohol were heated
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to boiling and treated with a solution of 5.6 grams of sodium nitrite in
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100 ml of ethyl alcohol. The mixture was heated with stirring for one-half
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hour and allowed to cool. The orange-gold crystalline product was collected
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on a filter, washed with ethyl alcohol and air dried. Yield was 1.85 grams.
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Preparation of Lead Nitranilate
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A solution of 1.0 grams of sodium nitranilate in 100 ml of boiling
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[ Transcriber's note: I dunno what. A word is missing
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in the text. I guess it is H2O or maybe C2H5OH. ]
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was filtered and the filtrate treated with 2.9 grams of lead nitrate
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in 10 ml of water. The mixture was stirred for one-half hour and the gold
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platelets collected on a filter and [washed] with water. After drying at 80
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centigrades for three hours, the product weighed 1.23 grams. The product
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ignited with a loud report on flame contact.
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2.5 Chloratotrimercuriacetaldehyde
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A stream of acetylene (from calcium carbide in water) was led into a
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solution of 0.3 gram of mercuric nitrate and 0.1 gram sodium chlorate
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in 20 ml of water. The solid suspension was initially white then turned
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grey upon further treatment with acetylene. The product was collected on a
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filter, washed with water and air dried. Ignition temperature was ca. 150
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centigrades as determined with a Fisher-Johns melting point apparatus.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.6 Trishydrazinezinc(II)Nitrate
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To a solution of 5.0 grams of zinc nitrate in 25 ml of ethyl alcohol was
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added a solution of 1.7 ml of 95 percent hydrazine in 5 ml of alcohol. The
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precipitate that immediately formed was collected on a filter an washed
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with ethyl alcohol. After drying for 2.5 hours at 90 centigrades the
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product weighed 4.45 grams.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.7 Fulminating Silver
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Silver chloride (from silver nitrate and hydrochloric acid) was treated
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with sufficient ammonium hydroxide to effect solution. This solution was
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treated with potassium hydroxide pellets until effervescence subsided. The
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black mixture was diluted with water and the dark solid collected on a
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filter. Attempts to remove te product from the wet filter resulted in an
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explosion.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.8 Diamminesilver(II)Chlorate
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A near saturated solution of silver chlorate (from silver nitrate and
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sodium chlorate) in water was treated dropwise with concentrated ammonium
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hydroxide. The dark product mildly deflagrated after isolation by
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filtration.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.9 Triacetonetriperoxide
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A mixture of 5 ml of acetone and 10 ml of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide was
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cooled to 5 centigrades and treated dropwise with 3 ml of concentrated
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sulfuric acid. The white precipitate that formed was extracted with ether,
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and the extract was washed three times with cold water. The ether was
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evaporated by a stream of air ant the product melted at 90-95 centigrades
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(lit. 94-95 centigrades).
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[ Transcriber's notes: This book contains a sometimes bad English, which I
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had not time to correct. I just wanted to tell you folks that it is the
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author, not me, that is the grammatical error-producer. The book also
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refers in every field description to an "improvised scale" that would be
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made in a chapter that doesn't exist in the book(!). I just omitted it
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from the descriptions, to not confuse you readers. ]
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