The chemical compound nitrogen trichloride (trichloramine) is a chloramine, with chemical formula NCl₃. A yellow, oily, pungent-smelling liquid, it is often found as a byproduct of chemical reactions between many nitrogen-containing compounds and chlorine.

Nitrogen trichloride was trademarked as Agene and used to artificially bleach and age flour. When purified, it is highly unstable. It decomposes in the presence of light or water, usually in less than 24 hours. Purified nitrogen trichloride explodes on contact with organic compounds or catalytic surfaces, by impacts and shock waves, or by self-heating during its decomposition. Bubbling chlorine gas through a solution of ammonium nitrate (and other ammonium salts) yields yellow droplets of nitrogen trichloride.

Nitrogen trichloride may be formed in small amounts when public water supplies are disinfected with monochloramine , a combination of chlorine and ammonia.

In 2003, Belgian researchers reported a possible link between trichloramine and rising numbers of childhood asthma cases.

See also:

• monochloramine
• dichloramine

External links

• News story on the Belgian research
• OSHA - Nitrogen trichloride