Nitrogen Triiodide Detonation

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Duration: 24 s
Size: 1.6 MB

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Nitrogen Triiodide Detonation

A ringstand is set up with two rings, each holding a filter paper on which nitrogen triiodide (NI₃) has been spread. The bottom filter paper is touched with a feather, causing an explosion that detonates the other sample of nitrogen triiodide. When nitrogen triiodide, the dark colored solid, is dry, it is very sensitive to touch or any vibration—just the touch of a feather causes detonation!

2 NI₃(s) → N₂(g) + 3 I₂(g)

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