Nitrogen halides, caution

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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