ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Explosive made by alchemists 400 years ago detonates in purple. Scientists finally know why

First described by alchemists, the puzzle of why fulminating gold detonates in purple smoke has finally been solved.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
November 28, 2023
in Chemistry, News
A A
Edited and reviewed by Zoe Gordon
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit
Purple smoke from fulminating gold

Researchers at the University of Bristol have cleared up a 400-year-old mystery: why fulminating gold, an explosive from the 16th century first discovered by alchemists, emits purple smoke upon detonation.

Fulminating gold is a complex mix, primarily powered by ammonia. First documented by Sebald Schwaertzer in 1585, its purple smoke baffled many, including chemistry legends like Robert Hooke and Antoine Lavoisier. Despite centuries of chemical advancements, this colorful enigma persisted — until now.

Surprise, surprise — apparently, it all boils down to gold nanoparticles released during the violent discharge. But there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

Alchemy to Chemistry

During the late Middle Ages, alchemy was extremely fashionable. Part speculative philosophy, part precursor to legitimate chemistry, alchemy aimed to achieve the transmutation of base metals such as iron into gold. Alchemical side quests included a universal cure for all diseases and the discovery of a means to achieve eternal life.

Although it is easy to ridicule alchemists with our fancy scientific knowledge of today, let’s not forget people of the time were working with very limited tools and knowledge. For instance, Medieval scholars still held to the assumption that everything in the universe is composed of four elements: fire, air, earth, and water.

Nevertheless, it was alchemists who first produced hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, potash, and sodium carbonate. They were also the first to identify chemical elements such as arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. Though shrouded in the occult and pseudoscience, it was alchemy that laid the groundwork for chemistry as a scientific discipline.

It was in these shadowy labs of medieval alchemists that the intriguing properties of fulminating gold were first revealed.

RelatedPosts

Douglas fir forests are buckling under the heat, pausing their growth altogether
New Device Harnesses Sun and Sewage to Produce Hydrogen Fuel
Perfectly Cubic Salt Crystals at Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
This surge of extreme cold is probably caused by climate change — and you’d better get used to it

Gold: the explosive

Fulminating gold, or gold(III) fulminate, differs significantly from the lustrous metal known to us. It’s a powdery substance, prone to exploding upon the slightest disturbance. Its volatility is owed to its molecular structure, where gold atoms are linked to highly unstable nitro groups. Even minor disturbances can break these bonds, releasing energy violently.

Synthesizing fulminating gold involves a delicate process of reacting gold with nitric acid and ethanol. The procedure is fraught with risks, as the compound can detonate unexpectedly. It’s no surprise that fulminating gold was the first high explosive in the world, used extensively in mining and warfare.

Besides being incredibly explosive and the fact that it’s made with gold particles, one of the more curious features of fulminating gold is that it detonates in purple smoke. Although chemists have had their theories, no one really had been able to clearly prove why this occurs — until recently.

Professor Simon Hall and his Ph.D. student Jan Maurycy Uszko at the University of Bristol detonated tiny 5 mg samples of fulminating gold on aluminum foil and captured the resulting smoke with copper mesh. Under the scrutiny of a transmission electron microscope, a long-held yet unproven suspicion was confirmed: the smoke contained spherical gold nanoparticles.

“We found the smoke contained spherical gold nanoparticles, confirming the theory that the gold was playing a role in the mysterious smoke,” said Professor Hall.

“I was delighted that our team have been able to help answer this question and further our understanding of this material,” he added.

The spherical gold nanoparticles ranged in size from 30 nanometers to 300 nanometers, which is relatively close to 400 nanometers — the wavelength of violet light. This analysis not only demystifies the purple smoke of fulminating gold but also explains why objects in alchemy labs were often coated in a purple patina.

The findings appeared in pre-print on arXiv.

The quest for understanding continues, bridging centuries of human curiosity and intellect.

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

Future

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

byTibi Puiu
10 hours ago
great white shark
Animals

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

byJordan Strickler
12 hours ago
Agriculture

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

byTudor Tarita
12 hours ago
News

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

byMihai Andrei
13 hours ago

Recent news

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet ‘Sea Monster’ That’s Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

June 30, 2025
great white shark

This Shark Expert Has Spent Decades Studying Attacks and Says We’ve Been Afraid for the Wrong Reasons

June 30, 2025

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.