Beryllium nitride

Beryllium nitride, Be3N2, is a nitride of beryllium. It can be prepared from the elements at high temperature (1100–1500 °C),[2] unlike Beryllium azide or BeN6, it decomposes in vacuum into beryllium and nitrogen.[2] It is readily hydrolysed forming beryllium hydroxide and ammonia.[2] It has two polymorphic forms cubic α-Be3N2 with a defect anti-fluorite structure, and hexagonal β-Be3N2.[2] It reacts with silicon nitride, Si3N4 in a stream of ammonia at 1800–1900 °C to form BeSiN2.[2]

Beryllium nitride
Identifiers
ECHA InfoCard 100.013.757
EC Number
  • 215-132-6
UNII
Properties
Be3N2
Molar mass 55.06 g/mol
Appearance yellow or white powder
Density 2.71 g/cm3
Melting point 2,200 °C (3,990 °F; 2,470 K)
Boiling point 2,240 °C (4,060 °F; 2,510 K) (decomposes)
decomposes
Solubility in [[acids, bases]] hydrolyzes
Structure
Cubic, cI80, SpaceGroup = Ia-3, No. 106 (α form)
Hazards
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 0.002 mg/m3
C 0.005 mg/m3 (30 minutes), with a maximum peak of 0.025 mg/m3 (as Be)[1]
REL (Recommended)
 Ca C 0.0005 mg/m3 (as Be)[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 Ca [4 mg/m3 (as Be)][1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Preparation

Beryllium nitride is prepared by heating beryllium metal powder with dry nitrogen in an oxygen-free atmosphere in temperatures between 700 and 1400 °C.

Uses

It is used in refractory ceramics[3] as well as in nuclear reactors and to produce radioactive carbon-14 for tracer applications.

Reactions

Beryllium nitride reacts with mineral acids producing ammonia and the corresponding salts of the acids:

Be3N2 + 6 HCl → 3 BeCl2 + 2 NH3

In strong alkali solutions, a beryllate forms, with evolution of ammonia:

Be3N2 + 6 NaOH → 3 Na2BeO2 + 2 NH3

Both the acid and alkali reactions are brisk and vigorous. Reaction with water, however, is very slow:

Be3N2 + 6 H2O → 3 Be(OH)2 + 2 NH3

Reactions with oxidizing agents are likely to be violent. It is oxidized when heated at 600 °C in air.

References
  1. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0054". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5
  3. Hugh O. Pierson, 1996, Handbook of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides: Properties, Characteristics, Processing, and Applications, William Andrew Inc.,ISBN 0-8155-1392-5
Salts and covalent derivatives of the nitride ion
NH3
N2H4		 He(N2)11
Li3N Be3N2 BN β-C3N4
g-C3N4
CxNy		 N2 NxOy NF3 Ne
Na3N Mg3N2 AlN Si3N4 PN
P3N5		 SxNy
SN
S4N4		 NCl3 Ar
K Ca3N2 ScN TiN VN CrN
Cr2N		 MnxNy FexNy CoN Ni3N CuN Zn3N2 GaN Ge3N4 As Se NBr3 Kr
Rb Sr3N2 YN ZrN NbN β-Mo2N Tc Ru Rh PdN Ag3N CdN InN Sn Sb Te NI3 Xe
Cs Ba3N2   Hf3N4 TaN WN Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg3N2 TlN Pb BiN Po At Rn
Fr Ra3N2   Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
↓
La CeN Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu GdN Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
Ac Th Pa UN Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr


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