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As someone who dropped chemistry in grade 11- what makes Nitrogen so exciting like that? So many common explosive compounds seem to have it.
by mabbo 5y ago
As someone who dropped chemistry in grade 11- what makes Nitrogen so exciting like that?
So many common explosive compounds seem to have it.
- Thorondor 5y agoWhen nitrogen compounds combust, they tend to produce nitrogen gas (N2). Since nitrogen molecules contain a very strong nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond, a lot of energy is released when they form.
- G3rn0ti 5y agoNitrogen-Nitrogen bonds inside larger molecules are never quite stable because 1) nitrogen “wants” to form stable di-nitrogen (N2) molecules containing a very stable triple bond (an exothermic reaction) and 2) the result of such decompositions is nitrogen gas increasing the amount of entropy released (due to more molecules being created). Reactions are driven both by the amount of heat released (enthalpy) and the amount of “disorder” created (entropy). Explosive reactions tend to be the ones where both factors add to the driving force.
- morpheuskafka 5y agoDoes the same apply to oxygen? Since it also likes to be in a diatomic form.
- masklinn 5y agoThe opposite, or oxygen wouldn't be such a strong oxidiser, which implies it readily and energetically leaves its double bond behind for either single bonds (H2O) or double bonds with non-oxygen atoms (CO2).
- G3rn0ti 5y agoOh, yes. Every substance carrying a „peroxo“ in its name is usually nasty stuff. Concentrated hydrogenperoxide for example can explode creating gaseous water (aka steam) and dioxygen (aka oxygen) in the process. While O2 is a corrosive, it is quite inert under normal conditions (which is why our clothes don’t burst into flames spontaneously).
- opportune 5y agoDiatomic oxygen is less stable than many other oxygen-containing compounds like CO2 (that is why charcoal burns) but diatomic nitrogen is pretty much as stable as nitrogen can get.
- lmilcin 5y agoHydrogen peroxide at sufficient concentration can be used as rocket fuel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide "High-concentration H2O2 is referred to as "high-test peroxide" (HTP). It can be used either as a monopropellant (not mixed with fuel) or as the oxidizer component of a bipropellant rocket."
- jldugger 5y agoI mean, pure oxygen envs are pretty dangerous on their own, compared to pure N2.
- jhallenworld 5y agoThey can form molecules where nitrogen is not in its lowest energy bond (which is the triple-bond N2 gas) and where a reaction to this lower energy molecule can be triggered with some small activation energy. The energy released provides the activation energy for nearby material so you get a chemical chain reaction.
- jihadjihad 5y agoI thought this was an informative read for someone who also only has a limited knowledge of chemistry: https://wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2013/06/27/when-does-the-breaking-of-chemical-bonds-release-energy/ https://wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2013/06/27/when-does-the-breaki...