Chlorine azide (ClN3) is an inorganic compound that was discovered in 1908 by Friedrich Raschig. Concentrated ClN3 is notoriously unstable and may spontaneously detonate at any temperature.
Preparation and handling
Chlorine azide is prepared by passing chlorine gas over silver azide, or by an addition of acetic acid to a solution of sodium hypochlorite and sodium azide.3
Explosive characteristics
Chlorine azide is extremely sensitive. It may explode, sometimes even without apparent provocation; it is thus too sensitive to be used commercially unless first diluted in solution. Chlorine azide reacts explosively with 1,3-butadiene, ethane, ethene, methane, propane, phosphorus, silver azide, and sodium. On contact with acid, chlorine azide decomposes, evolving toxic and corrosive hydrogen chloride gas.4
Regulatory information
Its shipment is subject to strict reporting requirements and regulations by the US Department of Transportation.
External links
- Media related to Chlorine azide at Wikimedia Commons
References
Frierson, W. J.; Browne, A. W. (1943). "Chlorine Azide. II. Interaction of Chlorine Azide and Silver Azide. Azino Silver Chloride, N3AgCl". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 65 (9): 1698–1700. Bibcode:1943JAChS..65.1698F. doi:10.1021/ja01249a013. /wiki/Journal_of_the_American_Chemical_Society ↩
Frierson, W. J.; Kronrad, J.; Browne, A. W. (1943). "Chlorine Azide, ClN3. I.". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 65 (9): 1696–1698. Bibcode:1943JAChS..65.1696F. doi:10.1021/ja01249a012. /wiki/Journal_of_the_American_Chemical_Society ↩
Raschig, F. (1908). "Über Chlorazid N3Cl". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 41 (3): 4194–4195. doi:10.1002/cber.190804103130. https://zenodo.org/record/1426305 ↩
CID 61708 from PubChem https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/61708 ↩