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Nitrogen triiodide detonation

Simply touching dry nitrogen triiodide with a feather causes it to explode. Includes slow-motion replay of explosion.

Discussion: 

A ring stand is set up with two rings, each holding a filter paper on which nitrogen triiodide has been spread. The bottom filter paper is touched with a feather, causing an explosion that detonates the other sample of nitrogen triiodide.

Equation: 2NI3 —> N2 + 3I2

Credits: 
  • Design
    • John W. Moore University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
    • Lynn R. Hunsberger University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
    • Steven D. Gammon University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843
  • Demonstration
    • Kelly Houston Jetzer University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
  • Video Production
    • Jerrold J. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
  • Text
    • Kelly Houston Jetzer University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
    • John W. Moore University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706