Fulminic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or containing fulminate, a highly unstable chemical compound used in detonators
2. Of or pertaining to fulminate salts, which are explosive substances derived from fulminic acid
3. Designating or involving fulminates, explosive compounds that detonate from shock or friction

Etymology: "Fulminic" is a chemistry adjective built from the verb "fulminate" and the suffix "-ic," which marks a substance or acid derived from a parent compound. The verb itself comes from Latin "fulminare," meaning "to strike with lightning," from "fulmen," "lightning" or "thunderbolt." The Latin root has survived in English through the sense of explosion, since the chemical family named for it was known for detonating violently. Fulminates are salts of fulminic acid, and the name was chosen because these compounds explode with a sharp crack, much like a thunderbolt. Chemists of the period used "-ic" in the same way for many acids, so "fulminic" follows a familiar pattern: a descriptive base word, with the suffix signalling the acid's chemical relationship to it.

Synonyms: explosive