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The Crystal and Molecular Structure of Mercury Fulminate (Knallquecksilber)†

  1. Wolfgang Beck Prof. Dr.*,
  2. Jürgen Evers,
  3. Michael Göbel,
  4. Gilbert Oehlinger,
  5. Thomas M. Klapötke

Article first published online: 25 JUN 2007

DOI: 10.1002/zaac.200700176

Issue

Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie

Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie

Volume 633, Issue 9, pages 1417–1422, August 2007

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How to Cite

Beck, W., Evers, J., Göbel, M., Oehlinger, G. and Klapötke, T. M. (2007), The Crystal and Molecular Structure of Mercury Fulminate (Knallquecksilber). Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 633: 1417–1422. doi: 10.1002/zaac.200700176

Author Information

  1. München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Department Chemie und Biochemie

*Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilans University, Butenandtstr. 5–13, D-81377 Munich, Germany, Fax: +(49) (0)89/2180-77866

  1. †

    Dedicated to Professor Rolf Huisgen

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 JUN 2007
  2. Article first published online: 25 JUN 2007
  3. Manuscript Received: 4 APR 2007

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Keywords:

  • Mercury fulminate;
  • Knallquecksilber;
  • Crystal structure

Abstract

A short survey on the fascinating history of mercury fulminate is given. The crystal structure of Hg(CNO)2 has been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Mercury fulminate crystallizes in an orthorhombic cell, space group Cmce with a = 5.3549(2), b = 10.4585(5), c = 7.5579(4) Å and Z = 4. The distances and angles in the O-N≡C-Hg-C≡N-O molecule are Hg-C 2.029(6) Å, C≡N 1.143(8) Å, N-O 1.248(6) Å and C-Hg-C 180.0(1)°, Hg-C≡N 169.1(5)°, C≡N-O 179.7(6)°. Each mercury atom is surrounded by two oxygen atoms from neighbouring Hg(CNO)2 molecules with a nonbonding distance of Hg···O 2.833(4) Å. The Hg-C bond lengths in the linear Hg(CNO)2 molecules are shorter than those in the tetrahedral complex [Hg(CNO)4]2−. This refers to a large contribution of the 6s orbital in the Hg-C bonds of Hg(CNO)2. The results of the X-ray powder investigation on Hg(CNO)2 are also reported.

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