In some older movies, you can hear people mention some type of explosive compounds. One of these compounds is called fulminate of mercury. This compound has the following molecular formula: Hg(CNO)2. The CNOG ion is very unstable and is the reason why the mercuric compound is explosive. On the other hand, mercury cyanate, Hg(NCO)2, is not explosive. The cyanate ion (NCOG) is a stable ion. Use resonance structures and electronegativities to explain why this is so.