N, Br

Br₂-water

NH₃ (10%)

Formation of dense smoke from bromine and ammonia . Bromine vapor is poured into air, containing ammonia gas.

N, Br

NaBrO₃

KBr (or NaBr)

NH₂OH.HCl

H₂SO₄ (dilute)

Spectacular violent reaction with time delay . Hydroxylamine and bromate react violently (explosively), but not immediately after mixing. For tens of seconds nothing seems to happen and then suddenly the mix reacts extremely violently. This is a very interesting phenomenon, and it is possible to explain this behavior quite well, using a simple model.

N, I

KIO₃

KH(IO₃)₂

NaNO₂

Reaction between molten nitrite and iodate, formation of beautiful wine red gas mixes.

N

Cu

HNO₃ (≥ 50 %)

Properties of nitrogen oxides, NOx. Some nitrogen dioxide is made and it is shown that the color of the gas mix strongly depends on temperature.

N

HNO₃ (≥ 50 %)

H₂SO₄ (concentrated)

CH₃CH(OH)CH₃

Violence of a nitration runaway. A simple experiment, in which a copious amount of nitrogen dioxide is made in a violent reaction. Nice for demo purposes.

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N, C, S

N₂O

CS₂

Barking dog reaction . Nitrous oxide is mixed with carbon disulfide vapor and this mix is ignited. This results in a very spectacular reaction with bright light and an impressive barking noise.

N, Cl

N₂H₄ (dilute, 20%)

HClO₄ (dilute, 20%)

Violent decomposition of hydrazine perchlorate and fairy-like sparkles. A small quantity of hydrazine perchlorate is prepared and this compound is heated, leading to a peculiar fairy-like sparkling when heating is not too strong and violent deflagration on stronger heating.

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N

NaNO₂

KMnO₄ (or MnO₂)

H₂O₂ (3%)

HCl (10%)

Reaction in gas phase. Nitrogen monoxide and oxygen are prepared and mixed by setting up an apparatus with two glass bottles. As soon as the gases mix, a deep brown gas is formed.

N, organic

CH₃OH

NaNO₂ (or KNO₂)

HCl (10%)

A fast and complete formation of an inorganic ester. Methyl nitrite is prepared in this experiment and simply is isolated, because it bubbles out of solution.

N, organic

HNO₃ (≥ 60 %)

H₂SO₄ (concentrated)

NaHCO₃

cellulose wadding

Nitration of a piece of cellulose wadding . A classical experiment, in which common white cellulose wadding is nitrated. The nitrated wadding quickly burns without smoke and without leaving any residue/ashes.

H₅IO₆

N₂H₄

alternatives based on KIO₄ and salts of hydrazine are possible

N, Cl, Br, I

N₂H₄.2HCl

Ca(OCl)₂

NaClO₂

KClO₃

KBrO₃

KIO₃

KIO₄

Reactivity of different oxohalogenate ions. Several oxohalogenate compounds are added to a concentrated solution of hydrazine dihydrochloride. In many cases this leads to a reaction, some of them being very violent. A comparison is made of the reactivity of the different oxohalogenate ions at room temperature.

N, organic

CH₃NO₂

NaOH

Violent reaction between nitromethane and sodium hydroxide. Nitromethane and sodium hydroxide are mixed. After a short induction time, a very violent reaction starts.

technical

NH₃ (dilute, 5%)

Concentrating and purification of ammonia. Ordinary household ammonia is concentrated and purified by heating the liquid, driving out the gas and leading that gas through distilled water. This process can be used to make very pure ammonia at a higher concentration than the plain household ammonia.

technical

HNO₃ (≥ 60 %)

H₂SO₄ (concentrated)

Making 90% nitric acid. Ordinary concentrated nitric acid (60% or so) is transformed into very strong acid of 90+  % concentration by means of distillation.