This has been on my mind for a while. Nitrogen often seems inclined to fill its entire shell by forming a triple bond, so why does it react with oxidisers so readily in compounds? Every other nitrogen based molecule seems to be an explosive or easily turned into one.
Not “every other one,” only those where N isn’t at its most oxydized state (nitrites for example; nitrates are perfectly stable thank you much).
Are you talking only about inorganic molecules or organic ones as well? Amines and amides aren’t particularly dangerous, in general. Last I looked, most proteins didn’t explode if you looked at them hard.
Yeah, I meant inorganic molecules. Nitric acid in particular seems to be able to make explosives from anything you react it with properly (one’s clothing, for instance). Also, nitrates tend to fall under the “easily made into” one criteria, but don’t quote me on that.
you want something fun and exciting (read damn bloody dangerous and deadly)?
try nitrogen tri iodide. A solid that want to turn into gas if you look at it wrong.
It’s precisely because it’s so eager to get to the diatomic triple-bonded state. N2 is an incredibly stable molecule. There are few organisms capable of ripping it apart and fixing it into a biological useful state; most importantly, bacteria that live on certain plants’ roots. This is why nitrogen is so important in fertilizer.
Anyway, when you convert an unstable nitrogen compound (at a reasonably high energy state) into that incredibly stable N2 (at a very low energy state), the huge difference in energy is released. If the difference is big enough, it’s released as a big boom.
I’m familiar with it. Ammonia and Iodine solution if I recall correctly;
2NH3 (aq) + 3I2 (aq) → 2NI3 (aq) + 3H2 (g)
Hours of fun when combined with cupboard doors.
I think you might be confused. Nitrates are the oxidizers, they don’t react with oxidizers. Nitrogen gas is almost impossible to get to react. In fact, there is a huge amount of research into getting it to react just so we can be done with this damned Haber process. As the previous posters have mentioned, it is the stability of the nitrogen gas that makes nitrogen compounds release so much energy when they detonate.
Of course, you also get a massive boost by the fact that you are producing a gas which increases the entropy and the pressure wave. If nothing turned to a gas, you wouldn’t get much boom.
Oops, I meant to say “react as oxidisers”.
Would you believe I have an A level in chemistry. :smack:
The nitrogen triiodide pageat the always interesting Molecule of the Month site. Check out the animation.