In Anne McCaffrey’s series 'The Dragonriders of Pern', she describes her dragons chewing on rocks containing phosphinephosphine — a chemical made of one phosphorus atom and three hydrogen atoms. In gas form, phosphine is very flammable and explodes on contact with oxygen. (https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/blog/technically-fiction/nature-shows-how-dragons-might-breathe-fire).
Phosphine is under the category of pyrophoric chemicalspyrophoric chemicals, and is produced by heating phosphorus in an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate (https://archive.org/stream/mmoiresdemath10acad#page/636/mode/1up).
During the Great Wars that ravaged my Known World, the existence of dragons came to an end. A breakthrough for nations without the expensive dragonfire resistant armoury of the Northerners, and a blow to the economy of the latter.
But, those who had coexisted with the dragons (Westerners) were developing an imitation of dragon fire. These alchemists had created three possible imitations.
1. Red Fire or Bloodfire when red, Brimstone when black.
Formed by a pyrophoric sulphide - Mercury sulphide (Cinnabar). Produced by reaction of mercury (II) chloride with hydrogen sulphide. Smoke from fire contains poisonous mercury vapor and irritating sulfur dioxide gas (https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/8816sulfur dioxide gas) Insoluble; insoluble in water as a solid.
Extinguishing AgentsExtinguishing Agents: Water, foam, sand (https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/8816)
2. Acid Sulphur
Works on bases of highly dehydrative ability of sulphuric acidsulphuric acid, as it is known to absorb water from the air (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfuric_acid).
Two formations:
A. Formed by reaction of concentrated sulphuric acid, potassium permanganate and acetone (as a flammable agent).
B. Formed by reaction of sulphuric acid with water, in the presence of a flammable material (wood, oil, paper).
Not extinguished by water.
3. Dragon's Breath
Formed by reaction of phosphinephosphine with oxygen, in the presence of trace diphosphane (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphine). Can be extinguished with waterextinguished with water, but not whilst being bombarded with phosphine (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/emergencyresponsecard_29750035.html).
Firstly, how exactly do my Western alchemists store these dangerous chemicals and gases, without corroding the containers (feasibility of mining and production as time period concurs with the age of alchemy in real life)?
Secondly, can Firefire siphons be used as propellants for these incendiary formations?
Important to note: The West in my Known World is not so dissimilar from the Middle East and North Africa.