Tetrazene

Not to be confused with tetrazine or tetracene.

  Tetrazene is the hypothetical chemical compound N₄H₄.

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The name tetrazene is used in the nomenclature of formal derivatives of this hypothetical compound. One such derivative is 1(5-tetrazolyl)-4-guanyl tetrazene hydrate. Because it is the most important tetrazene, it is commonly known as simply tetrazene. It is an explosive material, used for sensitization of the priming compositions. It is slightly more impact-sensitive than mercury fulminate. When pressed enough, its sensitivity is reduced or destroyed; it also decomposes in boiling water. In contact with fire it readily explodes, producing large amount of black smoke. It is prepared by reacting sodium nitrite with an aminoguanidine salt dissolved in acetic acid at 30–40 °C.