Nitrides, phosphides, arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides

Classifying nitrides is not simple, but nearly all nitrides faU into one of the following groups, although, as we have seen for the borides and carbides, some care is needed in attempting to generalize  

The classification of saline nitride implies the presence of the ion, but this is tmlikely (see Section 15.1). However, it is usual to consider Li3N, Na3N (see Section 11.4), Be3N2, Mg3N2, Ca3N2, Ba3N2 and AIN in terms of ionic formulations. Hydrolysis of saline nitrides liberates NH3. Sodium nitride is very hygroscopic, and samples are often contaminated with NaOH (reaction 15.55). 

Among the nitrides of the p-block elements, Sn3N4 and the y-phase of Si3N4 represent the first examples of spinel nitrides (see Section 14.12). 

Nitrides of the rf-block metals are hard, inert solids which resemble metals in appearance, and have high melting points and electrical conductivities (see Box 15.4). They can be prepared from the metal or metal hydride with N2 or NH3 at high temperatures. Most possess structures in which the nitrogen atoms occupy octahedral holes in a 

A series of photographs showing a silicon nitride (ceramic) heater going from room temperature to 600°C over a period of a few seconds. 

The reaction of sodium azide with aryldiazonium salts yields arylpentazoles (equation 14.49), from which it has been possible to generate the cychc anion psig] through molecular fragmentation in an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer.  

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Chapter 14 Nitrides, phosphides, arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides 401... 

No, the editor didn t know what this name meant either.) It means salts of the triva-lent anions of Group V, restricted in [1] to arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides and prepared by reaction of sodium pnictides with anhydrous halides of transition and lanthanide metals. This violently exothermic reaction may initiate as low as 25°C. Avoidance of hydrated halides is cautioned since these are likely to react uncontrollably on mixing. Another paper includes a similar reaction of phosphides, initiated by grinding [2], Nitrides are reported made from the thermally initiated reaction of sodium azide with metal halides, a very large sealed ampoule is counselled to contain the nitrogen [3],... 

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