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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ixn5c!nichols
From: nichols@ixn5c.UUCP (nichols r k)
Newsgroups: net.rec
Subject: Blowing things up
Message-ID: <781@ixn5c.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 12-Mar-85 01:11:36 EST
Article-I.D.: ixn5c.781
Posted: Tue Mar 12 01:11:36 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 23:09:52 EST
References: <579@unmvax.UUCP> <101600001@hplabs.UUCP> <732@unmvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 31

> > Does anyone know an "easy" way to make Nitrogen Tri-iodide?  
> 
> 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:
> 
>               ...

"Beware" is right, and make that MUCH less than 1 oz. of iodine (about
the amount you can hold on a paper match is a good starter.
This stuff is also HIGHLY unpredictable.  I made some and partially
dried it on a 3 X 5 inch index card once.  I scattered most of it
around on the floor, but there was still quite a stain on the card.
I let the card dry THOROUGHLY, and then threw things at it, whacked
it with a ruler, and even put it on the floor and stomped on it.
NOTHING!!!  (Meanwhile, the crystals on the floor were happily
crackling and banging whenever anyone walked by, or sometimes just
by themselves.)  I had decided the material left on the card was
quite inert and was carrying it to the wastebasket when it lightly
brushed across the back of a friend's shirt.  There was a **LOUD**
BANG, leaving a big iodine stain on the shirt.  My friend said it
felt as though someone had whacked him with a belt.  Thank God it
was his back and not his face!  I have NEVER fooled with this stuff
since.

Nitrogen tri-iodide is HIGHLY explosive.  A whole ounce of iodine,
completely converted (I was using laboratory-grade ammonia solution)
would probably blow your hand off!

			Bob Nichols @ AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville IL
				ihnp4!ixn5c!nichols