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- @X083@X05.@X0811@X03 AMMONIUM TRIIODIDE CRYSTALS
-
- @X08 Ammonium triiodide crystals are foul@X05-@X08smelling purple colored crystals
- that decompose under the slightest amount of heat@X05,@X08 friction@X05,@X08 or shock@X05,@X08 if they
- are made with the purest ammonia @X05(@X08ammonium hydroxide@X05)@X08 and iodine@X05.@X08 Such
- crystals are said to detonate when a fly lands on them@X05,@X08 or when an ant walks
- across them@X05.@X08 Household ammonia@X05,@X08 however@X05,@X08 has enough impurities@X05,@X08 such as soaps
- and abrasive agents@X05,@X08 so that the crystals will detonate when thrown@X05,@X08crushed@X05,@X08 or
- heated@X05.@X08 Upon detonation@X05,@X08 a loud report is heard@X05,@X08 and a cloud of purple iodine
- gas appears about the detonation site@X05.@X08 Whatever the unfortunate surface that
- the crystal was detonated upon will usually be ruined@X05,@X08 as some of the iodine
- in the crystal is thrown about in a solid form@X05,@X08 and iodine is corrosive@X05.@X08 It
- leaves nasty@X05,@X08 ugly@X05,@X08 permanent brownish@X05-@X08purple stains on whatever it contacts@X05.@X08
- Iodine gas is also bad news@X05,@X08 since it can damage lungs@X05,@X08 and it settles to the
- ground and stains things there also@X05.@X08 Touching iodine leaves brown stains on
- the skin that last for about a week@X05,@X08 unless they are immediately and vigorously
- washed off@X05.@X08 While such a compound would have little use to a serious terrorist@X05,@X08
- a vandal could utilize them in damaging property@X05.@X08 Or@X05,@X08 a terrorist could throw
- several of them into a crowd as a distraction@X05,@X08 an action which would possibly
- injure a few people@X05,@X08 but frighten almost anyone@X05,@X08 since a small crystal that
- not be seen when thrown produces a rather loud explosion@X05.@X08 Ammonium triiodide
- crystals could be produced in the following manner@X05:@X08
-
- Materials Equipment
- @X05 _________ _________
-
- @X08 iodine crystals funnel and filter paper
- paper towels
- clear ammonia
- @X05(@X08ammonium hydroxide@X05,@X08 two throw@X05-@X08away glass jars
- for the suicidal@X05)@X08
-
-
- 1@X05)@X08 Place about two teaspoons of iodine into one of the glass jars@X05.@X08 The jars
- must both be throw away because they will never be clean again@X05.@X08
-
- 2@X05)@X08 Add enough ammonia to completely cover the iodine@X05.@X08
-
- 3@X05)@X08 Place the funnel into the other jar@X05,@X08 and put the filter paper in the funnel@X05.@X08
- The technique for putting filter paper in a funnel is taught in every basic
- chemistry lab class@X05:@X08 fold the circular paper in half@X05,@X08 so that a semi@X05-@X08circle
- is formed@X05.@X08 Then@X05,@X08 fold it in half again to form a triangle with one curved
- side@X05.@X08 Pull one thickness of paper out to form a cone@X05,@X08 and place the cone
- into the funnel@X05.@X08
-
- 4@X05)@X08 After allowing the iodine to soak in the ammonia for a while@X05,@X08 pour the
- solution into the paper in the funnel through the filter paper@X05.@X08
-
- 5@X05)@X08 While the solution is being filtered@X05,@X08 put more ammonia into the first jar
- to wash any remaining crystals into the funnel as soon as it drains@X05.@X08
-
- 6@X05)@X08 Collect all the purplish crystals without touching the brown filter paper@X05,@X08
- and place them on the paper towels to dry for about an hour@X05.@X08 Make sure that
- they are not too close to any lights or other sources of heat@X05,@X08 as they could
- well detonate@X05.@X08 While they are still wet@X05,@X08 divide the wet material into about
- eight chunks@X05.@X08
-
- 7@X05)@X08 After they dry@X05,@X08 gently place the crystals onto a one square inch piece of
- duct tape@X05.@X08 Cover it with a similar piece@X05,@X08 and gently press the duct tape
- together around the crystal@X05,@X08 making sure not to press the crystal itself@X05.@X08
- Finally@X05,@X08 cut away most of the excess duct tape with a pair of scissors@X05,@X08 and
- store the crystals in a cool dry safe place@X05.@X08 They have a shelf life of
- about a week@X05,@X08 and they should be stored in individual containers that can be
- thrown away@X05,@X08 since they have a tendency to slowly decompose@X05,@X08 a process which
- gives off iodine vapors@X05,@X08 which will stain whatever they settle on@X05.@X08 One
- possible way to increase their shelf life is to store them in airtight
- containers@X05.@X08 To use them@X05,@X08 simply throw them against any surface or place them
- where they will be stepped on or crushed@X05.@X08
-