Megalomania's Method of Making Nitrogen Triiodide

http://web.mit.edu/semenko/Public/Military%20Manuals/RogueSci-Mirror/explo/nitrogen_triiodide.html[5/9/2012 8:27:12 AM]

Nitrogen Triiodide

melting point---

boiling point--- nitrogen triiodide molecular mass

394.77density? g/mL

table key sensitivityvery high

chemical formulaNI3

explosive velocity? m/s

estimated cost$?.00/g

Nitrogen triiodide, also called ammonium triiodide, is a very unstable explosive that's not really practical due to itstremendous instability and cost. When wet it is stable but when dry the touch of a feather can cause it to detonate. Wetnitrogen triiodide should be spread out as much as possible or numerous small piles made. When dry the nitrogentriiodide will not explode from its own weight if spread out, a single large pile will.

A controlled lab demo using a feather to cause detonation:

The high cost of iodine, anywhere from $60 to $100 for a 500 g bottle, and its rarity, make it impractical from aneconomic standpoint. Those useless anarchist texts say iodine can be purchased in drug stores, it is sold in very tinyamounts heavily diluted with alcohol. The drug dealers have made iodine a restricted chemical, very few drug storeseven carry it now, there are safer alternatives. The simplicity in which this explosive can be made gives wanna bepunks an excuse to try. THIS EXPLOSIVE IS ONLY A CURIOSITY AND SHOULD NEVER BE MADE EXCEPTFOR A CONTROLLED DEMONSTRATION AS ABOVE! Stories abound about the dangers and ease of makingnitrogen triiodide. There was a senior undergraduate student (no not me) given full access to a lab who made some, itexploded in a beaker showering him with glass. He was not wearing safety goggles. By some miracle the glassembedded in his face did not rip his eyes to shreds. Then there were the teenage hoodlums that stole some iodine fromtheir high school chem lab, made the nitrogen triiodide at home, and brought it back to school. With a pop and puff ofpurple gas the teacher knew what it was. A word of advise to them for next time: Leaving the instructions on top ofyour desk in full view of teach will save you a lot of time scrubbing iodine stains during your next suspension. It isbest to leave it dry where you want to detonate it ASAP.

CHEMICALS APPARATUS

ammonium hydroxide beaker

iodine stirring rod

water graduated cylinder

Nitrogen triiodide is formed when iodine atoms displace the hydrogen atoms in ammonia NH3 + I = NI3. Thisreaction occurs when iodine crystals, I2 are soaked in excess ammonium hydroxide. To begin, select a small beaker or

Megalomania's Method of Making Nitrogen Triiodide

http://web.mit.edu/semenko/Public/Military%20Manuals/RogueSci-Mirror/explo/nitrogen_triiodide.html[5/9/2012 8:27:12 AM]

even a disposable cup about 50-mL in capacity. This process may permanently stain any container so I suggest thecup. Add 2 g of iodine crystals to the beaker, crush them as much as possible with a stirring rod. Add 40 mLammonium hydroxide to the beaker. After 2 hours the reaction should be complete. Pour the solution over a filter tocollect the crystals, any excess can be rinsed out of the beaker with water. Put the crystals where you want themimmediately because there only semblance of stability is when wet. Drying will take about 1 hour. You will need agraduated cylinder for measuring liquids.

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