Fuels nitrogen hydrides

Nicotinamide adenine dinudeotide is a major electron carrier in the oxidation of fuel molecules (Figure 15.13). The reactive part of NAD is its nicotinamide ring, a pyridine derivative synthesized from the vitamin niacin. In the oxidation of a substrate, the nicotinamide ring of NAD a hydrogen ion and two electrons, which are equivalent to a hydride ion (H ). The reduced form of this carrier is called NADH, In the oxidized form, the nitrogen atom carries a positive charge, as indicated by NAD. the electron acceptor in many reactions of the type... 

Plutonium nitride. Unlike the corresponding uranium-nitrogen system, only the one plutonium nitride PuN exists. It is prepared by heating plutonium hydride in nitrogen at 250 to 400 C, by reacting plutonium metal with a hydrogen-ammonia mixture at 600°C, or by direction reaction of molten plutonium with nitrogen at 1000 C. Plutonium nitride forms solid solutions with UN. However, because of the appreciable volatility and dissociation of PuN at temperatures at about 1600 C and above, the ternary (U, Pu)N is less attractive as a nuclear fuel than pure UN [K2, S4]. 

The survey of nitrogen oxidation states starts with the nitrides and ammonia (—3). Binary nitrides are much like hydrides and oxides in that they can be ionic, covalent, or interstitial. Ammonia is the familiar pyramidal, hydrogen-bonding base ammonium salts are much like those of potassium and rubidium except that the ammonium ion is a weak acid. Hydrazine (—2) is closely related to ammonia and is such an excellent reducing agent that it is used in rocket fuels. Hydroxylamine contains nitrogen in the —1 oxidation state. Nitrous oxide (+1), laughing gas, was the first anesthetic. Nitric oxide (+2) is an odd-electron species. It seems like a simple... 

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