Beryllium nitride, Be3N2, is a nitride of beryllium. It can be prepared from the elements at high temperature (1100–1500 °C); unlike beryllium azide or BeN6, it decomposes in vacuum into beryllium and nitrogen. It is readily hydrolysed forming beryllium hydroxide and ammonia. It has two polymorphic forms cubic α-Be3N2 with a defect anti-fluorite structure, and hexagonal β-Be3N2. It reacts with silicon nitride, Si3N4 in a stream of ammonia at 1800–1900 °C to form BeSiN2.
Preparation
Beryllium nitride is prepared by heating beryllium metal powder with dry nitrogen in an oxygen-free atmosphere in temperatures between 700 and 1400 °C.
3Be + N2 → Be3N2Uses
It is used in refractory ceramics6 as well as in nuclear reactors.
It is used to produce radioactive carbon-14 for tracer applications by the 147N + n → 146C + p reaction. It is favoured due to its stability, high nitrogen content (50%), and the very low capture cross section of beryllium for neutrons.7
Reactions
Beryllium nitride reacts with mineral acids producing ammonia and the corresponding salts of the acids:
Be3N2 + 6 HCl → 3 BeCl2 + 2 NH3In strong alkali solutions, a beryllate forms, with evolution of ammonia:
Be3N2 + 6 NaOH → 3 Na2BeO2 + 2 NH3Both the acid and alkali reactions are brisk and vigorous. Reaction with water, however, is very slow:
Be3N2 + 6 H2O → 3 Be(OH)2 + 2 NH3Reactions with oxidizing agents are likely to be violent. It is oxidized when heated at 600 °C in air.
References
Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Hugh O. Pierson, 1996, Handbook of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides: Properties, Characteristics, Processing, and Applications, William Andrew Inc.,ISBN 0-8155-1392-5 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier) ↩
Shields, R. P. (1956-02-01). THE PRODUCTION OF C$sup 14$ BY THE Be$sub 3$N$sub 2$ PROCESS (Report). Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). OSTI 4324224. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4324224 ↩