Fulminates are chemical compounds which include the fulminate ion. The fulminate ion, CNO-'s a pseudohalic ion, acting like a halogen with its charge and reactivity. Due to the instability of the ion, fulminate salts are friction-sensitive explosives. The best known's mercury fulminate, which has been used as a primary explosive in detonators. Fulminates can be formed from metals, such as silver and mercury, dissolved in nitric acid and reacted with ethanol. It's largely the presence of the weak… (More on Fulminate)