Calcium nitride

Unit cell containing 31 nitride ions (red) and 48 calcium ions (white). Each nitride is surrounded by six calcium, and each calcium by four nitride ions.
Names
IUPAC name
Calcium nitride
Other names
tricalcium dinitride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ECHA InfoCard 100.031.435 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 234-592-9
  • InChI=1S/3Ca.2N
  • InChI=1S/3Ca.2N/q3*+2;2*-3
  • InChI=1S/3Ca.2N/q;;+2;2*-1
  • [Ca]=N[Ca]N=[Ca]
  • [Ca+2].[Ca+2].[Ca+2].[N-3].[N-3]
  • [Ca]=[N-].[Ca+2].[N-]=[Ca]
Properties
Ca3N2
Molar mass 148.248 g·mol−1
Appearance red-brown crystalline solid
Density 2.670 g/cm3
2.63 g/cm3 (17 °C)
Melting point 1,195 °C (2,183 °F; 1,468 K)
decomposes
Structure
Cubic, cI80
Ia-3, No. 206
Related compounds
Other anions
Other cations
 Beryllium nitride
Magnesium nitride
Strontium nitride
Barium nitride
Radium nitride
Zinc nitride
Aluminium nitride
Lithium nitride
Sodium nitride
Potassium nitride
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Calcium nitride is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca3N2.[1] It exists in various forms (isomorphs), α-calcium nitride being more commonly encountered.

Structure

α-Calcium nitride adopts an anti-bixbyite structure, similar to Mn2O3, except that the positions of the ions are reversed: calcium (Ca2+) take the oxide (O2−) positions and nitride ions (N3−) the manganese (Mn3+). In this structure, Ca2+ occupies tetrahedral sites, and the nitride centres occupy two different types of octahedral sites.[2]

Synthesis and reactions

Calcium nitride is formed along with the oxide, CaO, when calcium burns in air. It can be produced by direct reaction of the elements:[3]

3 Ca + N2 → Ca3N2

It reacts with water or even the moisture in air to give ammonia and calcium hydroxide:[4]

Ca3N2 + 6 H2O → 3 Ca(OH)2 + 2 NH3

Like sodium oxide, calcium nitride absorbs hydrogen above 350 °C:

Ca3N2 + 2 H2 → 2 CaNH + CaH2

General references

References

  1. ^ Eagleson, M. (1994). Concise Encyclopedia Chemistry. Walter de Gruyter. p. 160. ISBN 3-11-011451-8. Calcium nitride.
  2. ^ Wells, A.F. (1984) Structural Inorganic Chemistry, Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-855370-6.
  3. ^ P. Ehrlich “Calcium, Strontium, Barium Nitrides Ca3N2, Sr3N2, Ba3N2” in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Edited by G. Brauer, Academic Press, 1963, NY. Vol. 1. p. 940-1.
  4. ^ Heyns, A. (1998). "The Vibrational Spectra and Decomposition of α-Calcium Nitride (α-Ca3N2) and Magnesium Nitride (Mg3N2)". Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 137 (1): 33–41. Bibcode:1998JSSCh.137...33H. doi:10.1006/jssc.1997.7672.

External links

Calcium compounds
Salts and covalent derivatives of the nitride ion
Categories