Explosive tetramine copper complexes
Explosive tetramine copper complexes
Energetic copper complexes of nitrate and chlorate are known primary explosives.
TACN (Tetraaminecopper(II) Nitrate), [Cu(NH3)4]NO3·H2O, is generated in a similar fashion to TACN and TACS in a two-step process. The first step entails the production of a copper(II) nitrate solution by combination of pure copper and nitric acid: Cu + 4 HNO
3 → Cu(NO
3)
2 + 2 H
2O + 2 NO
2. The resultant copper(II) nitrate solution is combined with a concentrated ammonia solution, or has ammonia gas bubbled through it until the solution turns from dark blue to dark purple. The resulting solution is then precipitated to produce TACN crystals, which then can be washed with ethanol for further purification.
TACC (Tetraaminecopper(II) Chlorate), [Cu(NH3)4]ClO3·H2O is generated in a similar fashion to TACN and TACS in two steps, first by heating of a solution containing a 1.6:1 ratio (by mass) of copper sulfate to sodium chlorate. Ammonia gas is then bubbled through the solution, or concentrated ammonia solution is added until the color changes from light green to dark blue. The resulting solution is evaporated in air to precipitate the TACC crystals, which then can be washed with ethanol for further purification.
Properties
TACN deflagrates somewhat rapidly unconfined with a green flame (due to the copper ions), though requiring a fair amount of preheating. Confined heating does not lead to detonation and instead deflagrates. When in hydrate form, TACN will melt when heated, and burn very poorly. TACN has very low shock sensitivity, regardless of confinement. This is likely due to its
References
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