Silver azide

Silver azide
Identifiers
13863-88-2 N
ChemSpider 55601 YesY
Jmol interactive 3D Image
PubChem 61698
Properties
AgN3
Molar mass 149.888 g/mol
Appearance colorless solid
Density 4.42 g/cm3, solid
Melting point 250 °C (482 °F; 523 K) explosive
Boiling point decomposes
Solubility in other solvents 2.0×10−8 g/L
Structure
Orthorhombic oI16[1]
Ibam, No 72
Hazards
Main hazards Very toxic, explosive
NFPA 704
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g., water Health code 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g., chlorine gas Reactivity code 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. E.g., nitroglycerin Special hazards (white): no codeNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
0
3
4
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Silver azide is the chemical compound with the formula AgN3. This colorless solid is a well-known explosive.

Structure and chemistry

Silver azide can be prepared by treating an aqueous solution of silver nitrate with sodium azide.[2] The silver azide precipitates as a white solid, leaving sodium nitrate in solution.

AgNO
3 (aq) + NaN
3 (aq) → AgN
3 (s) + NaNO
3 (aq)

X-ray crystallography shows that AgN3 is a coordination polymer with square planar Ag+ coordinated by four azide ligands. Correspondingly, each end of each azide ligand is connected to a pair of Ag+ centers. The structure consists of two-dimensional AgN3 layers stacked one on top of the other, with weaker Ag–N bonds between layers. The coordination of Ag+ can alternatively be described as highly distorted 4 + 2 octahedral, the two more distant nitrogen atoms being part of the layers above and below.[3]

Part of a layer
Layer stacking
4 + 2 coordination of Ag+
2 + 1 coordination of N in N−
3

In its most characteristic reaction, the solid decomposes explosively, releasing nitrogen gas:

2 AgN
3 (s) → 3 N
2 (g) + 2 Ag (s)

The first step in this decomposition is the production of free electrons and azide radicals; thus the reaction rate is increased by the addition of semiconducting oxides.[4] Pure silver azide explodes at 340 °C, but the presence of impurities lowers this down to 270 °C.[5] This reaction has a lower activation energy and initial delay than the corresponding decomposition of lead azide.[6]

Safety

AgN3, like most heavy metal azides, is dangerously explosive. Decomposition can be triggered by exposure to ultraviolet light or by impact.[2] Ceric ammonium nitrate is used as an oxidising agent to destroy AgN
3 in spills.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marr H.E. III., Stanford R.H. Jr. (1962). "The unit-cell dimensions of silver azide". Acta Crystallographica 15 (12): 1313–1314. doi:10.1107/S0365110X62003497.
  2. 1 2 Jacqueline Akhavan (2004). The chemistry of explosives (2nd ed.). Royal Society of Chemistry. pp. 30–31. ISBN 0-85404-640-2.
  3. ↑ Schmidt, C. L. Dinnebier, R.; Wedig, U.; Jansen, M. (2007). "Crystal Structure and Chemical Bonding of the High-Temperature Phase of AgN3". Inorganic Chemistry 46 (3): 907–916. doi:10.1021/ic061963n. PMID 17257034.
  4. ↑ Andrew Knox Galwey; Michael E. Brown (1999). Thermal decomposition of ionic solids (vol.86 of Studies in physical and theoretical chemistry. Elsevier. p. 335. ISBN 0-444-82437-5.
  5. 1 2 Margaret-Ann Armour (2003). Hazardous laboratory chemicals disposal guide, Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology (3rd ed.). CRC Press. p. 452. ISBN 1-56670-567-3.
  6. ↑ Jehuda Yinon; Shmuel Zitrin (1996). Modern Methods and Applications in Analysis of Explosives. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 15–16. ISBN 0-471-96562-6.
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