to another nitrogen atom, forming gaseous nitrogen. Historical notes Fulminates were discovered by Edward Charles Howard in 1800. Their use as fulminate gunpowder for firearms was first demonstrated by a Scottish minister, A. J. Forsyth, who was granted the patent to it in 1807. Joshua Shaw then made the transition to their use in metallic encapsulations, to form a percussion cap, but didn't patent his invention until 1822. In the 1820s, the organic chemist Justus Liebig discovered silver fulmi… (More on Fulminate)