PowerLabs Oxalate Explosive Synthesis

Silver Oxalate Explosive Synthesis, by
PowerLabs:

INTRODUCTION:

<Molecule Picture here>  Silver
Oxalate, or Ethanodioic acid, silver salt, C2Ag2O4 is a chemical compound used
in photographic emulsions. When I read on Merck Index that it would "Violently
decompose at 140C", I decided to synthesize some on my lab to evaluate its
properties. As is often the case with Silver Explosives, the Mercury Counterpart
also tends to be unstable. The synthesis of Mercury Oxalate was also
attempted.

MATERIALS:

Reactants:

Glassware:

Silver Nitrate

250mL Glass beaker.

Oxalic Acid

Pipette

Distilled Water (H2O(l))

Stirring
Rod

Absolute Ethanol

Funnel/filter
paper

Here all the chemicals used in the synthesis are seen, from left
to right, back to front: Distilled water, Silver Nitrate, Oxalic Acid, Absolute
Ethanol, 50mL glass beaker, spatula, glass rod.

A solution of Oxalic Acid is prepared by dissolving 1 gram in 20ml of
water (note that Oxalic Acid will dissolve 1g/7ml, but we are not looking for a
saturated solution here).

One gram of Silver Nitrate is than added to the Oxalic Acid solution and the
insoluble (1g/24000ml) Silver Oxalate precipitates as a white mass. Notice that
exact proportions were not bothered with as the product is insoluble, and thus
leftover reactants can be washed away.

The Silver Oxalate is than filtered from solution, washed in Absolute
Ethanol, and dried. it forms as a white powder of density 5.03, with a yield
greater than 1.5 gram.

The Oxalate decomposes from heating without flame and with the
formation of a white cloud (presumably Silver Oxide, Water Vapor, CO2). It will
explode mildly if heated under confinement.

Mercury Oxalate was synthesized in the same fashion, but did not
decompose in a violent fashion. It is also said to be explosive, but it is far
less sensitive than its Silver counterpart.

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