Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site cvl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!cvl!liang
From: liang@cvl.UUCP (Eli Liang)
Newsgroups: net.rec
Subject: Re: Re: Blowing things up
Message-ID: <157@cvl.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Mar-85 15:41:58 EST
Article-I.D.: cvl.157
Posted: Sat Mar  9 15:41:58 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 07:45:10 EST
References: <579@unmvax.UUCP> <101600001@hplabs.UUCP> <732@unmvax.UUCP>
Organization: Computer Vision Lab, U. of Maryland, College Park
Lines: 48

> > Does anyone know an "easy" way to make Nitrogen Tri-iodide?  
> > 
> > I have yet to find a nice simple method that can be
> > implemented in any dorm.
> > 
> > Thanks.
> > 
> > Dan "UCB is getting might quiet...too quiet..." Lieman
> 
> Beware!  Many people have seriously injured themselves playing with
> this substance.  I suggest starting out small ( < 1 oz. iodine ).
> Here is the nice simple method:
> 
> Take iodine (not iodine solution) and mix it with ammonia.
> Let it sit for a while and then run the mess through a paper towel.
> The lump of stuff will blow up as it dries out.
> Beware the fumes of ammonia--not only are they less then fun, but
> they are almost sure to attract attention (not to say that the
> explosions won't).
> 
> net.rec.bangs anyone?
> 
> [aside to Jordan Hubbard, I am the original poster--mail me]
> 
> 	--Cliff [Matthews]
> 	{purdue, cmcl2, ihnp4}!lanl!unmvax!cliff
> 	{csu-cs, pur-ee, convex, gatech, ucbvax}!unmvax!cliff
> 	4744 Trumbull S.E. - Albuquerque  NM  87108 - (505) 265-9143

I suggest reagent grade ammonia (ammonium hydroxide).  also, it might be nice
to wash the stuff in ether ... but beware of the ether fumes!  ether is
very volatile (though NOT NEARLY as volatile as NI3!) besides being
carcinogenic.  NI3 has a highly unstable crystaline structure so it undergoes
decomposition when dry.  Hydronium ions in water also tend to cause the
stuff to decompose. Though not recommended (you should use it when you make
it!) it is possible to keep NI3 "wet" in certain solvents without it blowing
up.  What is important is to not have it dry on any part of a container.

-eli


-- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eli Liang  ---
        University of Maryland Computer Vision Lab, (301) 454-4526
        ARPA: liang@cvl, liang@lemuria, eli@mit-mc, eli@mit-prep
        CSNET: liang@cvl  UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!cvl!liang