Chemistry:Zinc azide

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Zinc azide
430427-ICSD.svg
Names
IUPAC name
Zinc(II) azide
Other names
Zinc diazide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
Properties
Zn(N
3
)
2
Molar mass 149.4 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Density 2.559 g/cm3 (α polymorph)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Zinc azide Zn(N
3
)
2
is an inorganic compound composed of zinc cations (Zn2+) and azide anions (N
3
). It is a white, explosive solid that can be prepared by the protonolysis of diethylzinc with hydrazoic acid:[1]

Zn(C
2
H
5
)
2
+ 2 HN
3
→ Zn(N
3
)
2
+ 2 C
2
H
6

Properties

Zinc azide is a coordination polymer which crystallizes in three polymorphs, all of which feature tetrahedral zinc centers and bridging azide ligands. α-Zn(N
3
)
2
crystallizes in the monoclinic space group and is stable, while the other two polymorphs are metastable. P21/n. β-Zn(N
3
)
2
is trigonal, space group P3221, and γ-Zn(N
3
)
2
is monoclinic, space group C2.

It is easily hydrolyzed, and attempts to prepare it in aqueous solution resulted in the precipitation of basic azides Zn(OH)
2-x
(N
3
)
x
(x = 0.9–1.0). Both the α- and β-forms were found to be very friction- and shock-sensitive, violently exploding in blue flashes, but can be made to decompose slowly by gentle heating, giving off nitrogen gas. In a sealed glass tube with inert atmosphere, this yields zinc nitride, Zn
3
N
2
.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Schulz, Axel; Villanger, Alexander (2016). "Binary Zinc Azides". Chemistry: A European Journal 22 (6): 2032–2038. doi:10.1002/chem.201504524. PMID 26749253.