@chemteacherphil: This demonstration is one that you should NEVER ATTEMPT. Its dangerous, not only to prepare, but also to interact with. This is because the compound involved is so touch sensitive that even a slight breeze can cause it to explosively decompose. There’s not much use for the compound due to its nature, but it is interesting to because the molecules of nitrogen triiodide are structurally identical to that of a very stable compound, ammonia. The difference is properties is due to the size of iodine atoms (in the sensitive compound) compared to hydrogen atoms (in ammonia). The formation of bonds between nitrogen and iodine are sterically strained, and that means it doesn’t take much energy to break the bond. Once this happens, the compound rapidly decomposes (at roughly the speed of sound through a solid) forming nitrogen and iodine gases. The purple vapor that you see is the cloud of iodine vapor produced as the nitrogen triiodide decomposed. #chemistry #chemteacherphil

Phillip Cook

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Sunday 28 May 2023 17:38:46 GMT