Nitride Formation and Electronegativity

As shown in the partial Periodic Table of the Elements shown in Table 2.1 of Ch. 2, nitrogen has a higher electronegativity than any other of the elements with the exception of oxygen and fluorine.l H l As in the case of carbides, the difference in electronegativity of the respective elements plays an important part in the structure and bonding of refiactory nitrides (see discussion of electronegativity in See. 3.1, Ch. 2). 

This difference is large with the interstitial nitrides (Ti-N 1.5, V-N 1.4, Zr-N 1.6, Nb-N 1.4, Hf-N 1.7, Ta-N 1.5) but less pronounced with the covalentnitrides(B-N 1.0, Al-N 1.5, Si-N 1.2). Since nitrogen has a higher electronegativity than carbon, refractory nitrides show a greater electronegativity difference than the equivalent carbides. 

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