======Nitrogen Triiodide======


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**Alternative titles:** Explosive Decomposition of Nitrogen Triiodide
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Dissolve iodine powder in concentrated ammonia in a beaker, stir, and let stand for 15 minutes.  
  - Decant the liquid, keeping the damp brown nitrogen triiodide residue.  
  - Scrape the residue onto filter papers to absorb excess liquid.  
  - Divide the material into three portions, place each onto separate filter papers (spaced well apart), and allow to dry for about 1 hour.  
  - Once dry, touch one sample lightly with a feather attached to a long pole.  
  - Observe the violent detonation and violet smoke.

====Links==== 
Nitrogen Triiodide (touch powder) - Periodic Table of Videos - Periodic Videos: 
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Slow Motion Contact Explosive - Nitrogen Triiodide - The Royal Institution: 
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📄 How to Perform the Nitrogen Triiodide Chemistry Demonstration - ThoughtCo: [[https://www.thoughtco.com/nitrogen-triiodide-chemistry-demonstration-606311]]\\


====Variations====
  * Arrange filter papers vertically on retort stands so that detonating the bottom sample triggers the others.  
  * Use a perspex safety screen and multiple samples for dramatic effect.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Perform only by experienced demonstrators.  
  * Safety goggles, gloves, and ear protection required.  
  * Keep students at least 5 meters away; warn them to cover their ears.  
  * Use only very small quantities as specified—larger amounts are dangerously unstable.  
  * Nitrogen triiodide must remain damp until just before demonstration; dry samples are highly shock-sensitive.  Do not attempt to store nitrogen triiodide, it must be used immediately.
  * Handle concentrated ammonia with care; it is corrosive and irritating.  
  * Keep ignition sources away—explosion is triggered by touch, not flame.
  * Sweep the area afterwards with a broom to trigger any excess nitrogen triiodide that may have been splattered.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why is wet nitrogen triiodide safer to handle than dry? (Because water prevents it from reaching the unstable crystalline state.)  
  * What gaseous products are formed in the explosion? (Nitrogen gas and iodine vapor)  
  * How does this reaction illustrate decomposition? (The unstable compound breaks down explosively into simpler products.)  
  * Why does the explosion produce violet smoke? (Because iodine vapor is released.)  
  * What makes nitrogen triiodide so unstable? (Its crystal structure is under great strain due to the size mismatch between iodine atoms and the small nitrogen center.)