I don't know much about this compound, except that it's a high explosive, and it's shock and friction sensitive.
I usually wouldn't bother with such an obscure explosive, except that the synthesis sounds dead easy. I don't have any actual info with me, I just made this synthesis up, and I'm not a chemist, I could well be wrong! As soon as I obtain the chemicals, I'll try it out.
Anyway, here is how I think it should be done:
First, obtain some tartaric acid. This is very simple. It can be obtained from photography stores and some supermarkets, but if that fails, just go to the supermarket and buy some potassium hydrogen tartrate which is called "tartar" or something, and dissolve it in dilute hydrochloric acid. Now for the mercury, get this from the usual sources; old radios, thermometers, switches, etc. (I'm not sure if you use mercury metal or you use one of its salts, like mercuric oxide. I'm pretty sure mercuric oxide would work though!) Slowly add the mercury to the acid, and mercury tartrate should precipitate, which is then filtered and washed.
Please point out my errors, and maybe give me some information on this compound!

I did altavista and google searches for "mercury tartrate", and this is what I came up with. It is on many government or university site listings of "explosive and other dangerously unstable" materials. One list describes it as a "class A" explosive, of which RDX and TNT are also classed. At least four described it as "shock sensitive". No further information was given.

I'm getting really intruiged now. http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Yes some common organic salts of heavy metals are explosives!
Tartrates, oxalates,glycerate (surely) of Ag/Pb/Hg and maybe citrates!
Worth trying!
Also I have made already Ag oxalate by mixing AgNO3 diluted solution with oxalic acid solution.... the Ks (solubility constant) is so little that the precipitate comes without problem even without a neutral salt!
2AgNO3 + HO-CO-CO-OH <==> AgO-CO-CO-OAg + 2 HNO3
Ks(Ag oxalate)=(Ag(+))*(Ag(+))*(CO2-CO2 (2-))
(X) being the concentration
and (+)being the charge of the ion!
Oxalate of Ag is sensitive to flamme but is much less interesting than acetylide of Ag; indeed you need a big quantity or confinement to get it deflagrate (maybe detonate)what is never the case of Ag acetylide nitrate complex!
AgO-CO-CO-OAg --> 2Ag + 2CO2

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"Life that deadly disease sexually transmitted".
"Chemistry is all what stinks and explode; Physic is all what never works! ;-p :-) :o)"

Thanks PHIL! http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

I'll try it with mercuric chloride and my method of dissolving potassium bitartrate in HCl (no need to waste my HNO3, now). I'll give you guys the results (power, shock sensitivity, etc.) when my experiments are done.

I was looking for an old post an stumbled across this.. Have you tried it yet CodeMason?

No, I got in trouble with my parents because I kept setting off explosives in my back yard (a smart thing to do in dense suburbia! http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif) and the neighbours started complaining, that and other things (school work pressures, etc.) made me fall out of the pyro business for a few months. So I never did try it. Maybe some time in the future...

codemason, do you live in australia if so could you tell me where you get hno3 from?

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YZ's are the best

Yes! I can post again! Good to be back http://theforum.virtualave.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Well I'd just like to say that I was very dissappointed with lead oxalate, IMHO it's not worth making. I intend to make silver oxalate in the near future...

[This message has been edited by Mr Cool (edited 11-18-2001).]