Important: Safety Warning
This page contains instructions involving gunpowder or other explosive or pyrotechnic compositions. Preparing explosives as described has caused severe injuries and deaths, and is illegal in most places.
In addition, this page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Fulminating Gold
Dissolve parts of the chlorate of potassa and sulphuret gold in aqua regia (made by dissolving 4 of antimony with liquid gum, so as to form a ounces sal ammoniac in 12 or 16 ounces nitric paste. When dry it may be formed into pelacid), and precipitate with a solution of carbonate of potassa. Fulminating gold should be made in very small quantities at a time, to avoid risk, as without great care it explodes with extreme violence. This is caused by the slightest friction or sudden increase of heat.
Its fulminating property may be destroyed by boiling it in pearlash lye, or oil of vitriol; and by heating the powder after washing it in water, pure gold will be obtained.