What are toy gun caps made of?(those red circls that make a lot sound)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the composition and safety of toy gun caps, specifically the red circles that produce sound when used. Participants explore the materials involved, potential dangers, and historical context of these items.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that toy gun caps contain gunpowder.
  • Concerns are raised about the safety of gunpowder in toy caps, with one participant questioning the risk of injury if they burst in hand.
  • Another participant suggests that more gunpowder would be needed for a dangerous explosion.
  • There is a claim that gunpowder is not shock sensitive, which may mitigate some risks.
  • One participant recalls that explosive percussion caps were originally intended for firearms and mentions a belief that they contain a mercury compound.
  • Another participant distinguishes between traditional gunpowder and the paper "blasting caps" used in toys, noting that the latter contain insufficient explosive material for use in firearms but still produce a loud noise.
  • There is speculation about the burning material's composition and potential health risks associated with mercury in the caps.
  • A participant references a Wikipedia article suggesting that the caps may contain red phosphorus and potassium chlorate or perchlorate.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the composition and safety of toy gun caps, with no consensus reached regarding the exact materials or their potential dangers.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the composition of toy gun caps depend on historical context and may not reflect current manufacturing practices. There are unresolved questions about the health implications of materials used in these caps.

tsuwal
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http://wildwesttoys.com/db1/00001/wildwesttoys.com/_uimages/capsforwebsite2.JPG

Do they have gunpowder?
 
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Chemistry news on Phys.org
yep - gunpowder
 
:O isn't that dangerous? Could hurt yout fingers if you burst them in your hand, right?
 
You need more gunpowder for that.
 
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These explosive percussion caps were not originally intended as toys but for use in pistols and rifles, when I was a boy you had to be over 16 to purchase them, I believe they are a mercury compound .
 
syhprum said:
These explosive percussion caps were not originally intended as toys but for use in pistols and rifles, when I was a boy you had to be over 16 to purchase them, I believe they are a mercury compound .
I think that he was talking about those paper "blasting caps" used in some toys. There is too little explosive in those "blasting caps" for use in pistols or rifles. However, they do make a lot of noise. One can smell the burning material after a few of them go off. Some type of must be combustion is going on.

Still, the OP asked a good question. I always thought that it was a minute amount of black gun powder. However, old fashion gun powder is not shock sensitive. It had to be ignited by heat, not hit with a hammer. The toy guns that I remember did hit the paper with a hammer. So now I am curious.

You may be right. The black material on the paper "blasting caps" could be a mercury compound. If so, there may be health problems associated with it. Maybe that is why I haven't seen those paper "blasting caps" recently. Maybe they were banned or replaced with something safer.

I remember shooting a lot of these things off. The smell of burnt paper was very strong. If there was mercury in those things, then the "toy gun" was a lot more dangerous than they appeared.
 

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