Nitrogen Halides.—Nitrogen trichloride, NC1,. Nitrogen does not combine directly with halogens, but compounds may be ob tained indirectly. Nitrogen trichloride was obtained by Dulong (i8i i) by the action of chlorine on ammonium chloride solution. It can also be produced by the electrolysis of concentrated ammo nium chloride solution or by treating ammonia with excess of chlorine. Gattermann showed that the latter reaction takes place in three stages: NH2CH-C12=NHC12+ HC1; The intermediate compound monochloramine, has been isolated and forms colourless crystals melting at —66° C. It is unstable and explosive.
Nitrogen trichloride is a very dangerously explosive, volatile, yellow oil, boiling at 71°C. The vapour has a pungent odour and attacks the eyes and mucous membranes. The liquid explodes on contact with many substances or on exposure to bright light, but its solution in benzene may be safely handled in the dark. It is destroyed by ammonia.
powder by adding iodine to ammonia solution. This so-called "ni trogen iodine" was proved by Chattaway and Orton (1900) to be really the compound NI,NH, and NI, is not known. When dry the substance explodes violently even when touched with a feather; in some cases the moist substance also explodes. It is an active oxidizing agent, and in all probability first forms hypo iodous acid, HOI, in presence of water. It is decomposed on exposure to light.