Nitrogen trichloride, decomposition

Nitrogen trichloride, which is highly endothermic, is also extremely unstable. All the accidents that are described below and involve this compound are linked to the catalysis of its decomposition. It is the same when it is in the pure state and exposed to a physical agent such as shock, light or ultrasound. 

Hydrochloric acid catalyses the explosive decomposition of nitrogen trichloride. Chlorine dioxide... 

Arsenic catalyses the explosive decomposition of nitrogen trichloride. 

Finally, there was also spontaneous incandescence of a calcium car-bide/selenium mixture and the formation of an explosive compound in the presence of an alkali or alkaline earth amide. In addition, selenium catalyses the explosive decomposition of nitrogen trichloride. 

The interaction of a sodium or calcium hypochlorite or phosphorus penta-chloride with urea causes a violent detonation, that has been put down to the decomposition of the nitrogen trichloride formed. 

Shushunov and Pavlova158 have investigated the thermal decomposition of nitrogen trichloride at a concentration of 0.7 mole.l-1 in liquid carbon tetrachloride. In the absence of light and air the reaction was first order up to at least 50 % decomposition, and the rate coefficients fitted the Arrhenius expression... 

Bowen has shown that it is applicable in the case of the decomposition in carbon tetrachloride solution of chlorine monoxide and peroxide, and that the decomposition of nitrogen trichloride under the same conditions is not far removed from the requirements of the law. 

Nitrogen Trichloride. Potassium hydroxide solution initiates the violent decomposition of the trichloride.10... 

Nitrogen Trichloride. Selenium initiates the violent and often explosive decomposition of the trichloride.9... 

Nitrogen trichloride is more stable than chloramine and dichloramine. Decomposition occurs only slowly at room temperature. The decomposition is accelerated by light, arsenic trifluoride, or silver halides. 

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