Nitrogen trichloride

Nitrogen trichloride (NCl₃) is a yellow, volatile, highly explosive compound formed when ammonia reacts with chlorine. Its instability makes concentrated material exceptionally hazardous.

Ammonia: Ammonia is a colorless nitrogen hydride with formula NH₃ that acts as a base and nucleophile. It reacts with chlorine through successive substitution of hydrogen atoms, producing nitrogen trichloride.
Swimming pool chlorination: Swimming pool chlorination is the use of chlorine-based disinfectants to control pathogens in pool water. Chlorine disinfectants can react with nitrogen-containing contaminants to form nitrogen trichloride.
Eugène Turpin: Eugène Turpin was a French chemist known for developing and promoting explosive compounds in the nineteenth century. He investigated nitrogen trichloride’s explosive properties and suffered a serious laboratory accident involving it.
Monochloramine: Monochloramine (NH₂Cl) is an inorganic chloramine used as a drinking-water disinfectant. It retains two N–H bonds and is far more stable than nitrogen trichloride.
Chlorination: Chlorination is the introduction of chlorine into a substance through chemical reaction. Nitrogen trichloride forms when chlorine replaces ammonia’s hydrogen atoms.
Chloramines: Chloramines are compounds containing chlorine–nitrogen bonds, formed when chlorine reacts with ammonia or related compounds. Nitrogen trichloride is the most highly chlorinated inorganic chloramine.
Humphry Davy: Humphry Davy was a British chemist who isolated several elements and investigated chemical reactions in the early nineteenth century. His experiments with nitrogen trichloride caused severe eye injuries, demonstrating its extreme sensitivity.
Dichloramine: Dichloramine (NHCl₂) is an inorganic chloramine formed during reactions between chlorine and ammonia. It has one fewer chlorine atom and differs in stability and volatility from nitrogen trichloride.
N–Cl bond: An N–Cl bond is a covalent bond between nitrogen and chlorine atoms. The compound’s reactive bonds help explain its sensitivity and explosive decomposition.
Disinfection byproduct: A disinfection byproduct is a substance formed unintentionally when a disinfectant reacts with contaminants. Pool water can produce nitrogen trichloride as chlorine reacts with nitrogen compounds.

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