You can do the same thingWith Ammonium triiodide - a black powder produced by adding iodine to ammonia. When wet, it is stable but when dry, it is a shock-sensitive contact explosive which, although not powerful, makes a loud bang and a nice little cloud of purple smoke. Ideal for ash-trays. You can also paint a wet suspension of it onto door handles, bicycle seats, etc.
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TunaBoy should be old enough to know better by now,
Tue 28 Oct 2003, 16:36,
archived)