Nitrogen triiodide is a highly unstable substance that detonates when disturbed. So we disturbed it. Subscribe for regular science videos: bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Can you help us translate this video? www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=DFfRqoIdArM And if you can explain what's going on with the flash of light, let us know! Nitrogen triiodide is so unstable that even something like a mosquito landing on it can set it off. Three iodine atoms cluster around one side of a nitrogen atom. Being crowded around one end causes something called bond strain as the atoms repel each other in a small space. The result is that the molecule is prone to falling apart, explosively. If you think you can explain the flash of light before the explosion, let us know in the comments below. *Please note, this is a dangerous experiment and should not be replicated at home or in the classroom.* For more from Andy, check out his other Tales From The Prep Room films: youtu.be/DFfRqoIdArM?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyfUXqroIlSf2hOznnThqM0 Subscribe for regular science videos: bit.ly/RiSubscRibe Watch more science videos on the Ri Channel richannel.org The Ri is on Twitter: twitter.com/ri_science and Facebook: www.facebook.com/royalinstitution and Tumblr: ri-science.tumblr.com/ Subscribe for the latest science videos: richannel.org/newsletter

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