Caesium azide, decomposition

Caesium azide melts with a little decomposition (<1%) at 598 K. There is slow decomposition of the solid when large amounts of NiO are present [714], Observations on the photolyses of RbN3 and CsN3 have been discussed [715] with reference to the pyrolyses of other alkali azides. 

Caesiiun azide melts with little decomposition (<1%) at 598 K. Slow decomposition was observed [45] when semiconducting oxides such as NiO were present in large amounts and was autocatalysed by caesium oxides formed in the reaction. The photochemical decompositions of both salts have been investigated [46],... 

Cesium is an alkali metal that reacts explosively with water and melts just above room temperature. The word cesium is derived from caesium (Latin for sky blue ). The name was chosen because of the blue lines observed by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff during their analysis of springwater with a spectroscope in 1860. Currently, cesium metal is generated via thermal decomposition of the azide, electrolysis of molten CsCN, or reduction of molten CsCl with calcium vapor followed by fractional distillation. 

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