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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Unpublished paper, 'On a new fulminate of silver, and its application as a test for chlorine, etc.' by Edmund Davy

Reference number: AP/14/5

Date: 1830

Description

Davy explains that he found that fulminic acid explodes when brought into contact with chlorine gas, and chose to experiment further on this interaction. He found that fulminates of lead, mercury, and silver could be used to detect chlorine gas. Davy describes his particular compound of fulminate of silver in terms of its properties, composition, and effects.

An ink inscription final page verso reads 'Not to be Printed'.

Subject: Chemistry

Addressed to Davies Gilbert. Read to the Royal Society on 17 June 1830.

Reference number
AP/14/5
Earliest possible date
1830
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
16 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Edmund Davy

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Citation

Edmund Davy, Unpublished paper, 'On a new fulminate of silver, and its application as a test for chlorine, etc.' by Edmund Davy, 1830, AP/14/5, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_14_5/unpublished-paper-on-a-new-fulminate-of-silver-and-its-application-as-a-test-for-chlorine-etc-by-edmund-davy, accessed on 20 May 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/ap_14_5/unpublished-paper-on-a-new-fulminate-of-silver-and-its-application-as-a-test-for-chlorine-etc-by-edmund-davy

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  • Archived Papers

    The 'Archived Papers' collection is comprised of original manuscript scientific papers and letters submitted to the Royal Society which remained unpublished or were abstracted in the journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society' published from 1830 onwards.

    Dates: 1768 - 1989

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