 Unit cell containing 31 nitride ions (white) and 48 calcium ions (red). Each nitride is surrounded by six calcium, and each calcium by four nitride ions. | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name Calcium nitride | |
| Other names tricalcium dinitride | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.031.435 |
| EC Number |
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| |
| |
| Properties | |
| Ca3N2 | |
| Molar mass | 148.248 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | red-brown crystalline solid |
| Density | 2.670 g/cm3 2.63 g/cm3 (17 °C) |
| Melting point | 1,195 °C (2,183 °F; 1,468 K) |
| decomposes | |
| Structure | |
| Cubic,cI80 | |
| Ia-3, No. 206 | |
| Related compounds | |
Otheranions | |
Othercations | Beryllium nitride Magnesium nitride Strontium nitride Barium nitride Radium nitride Zinc nitride Aluminium nitride Lithium nitride Sodium nitride Potassium nitride |
Related compounds | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Calcium nitride is theinorganic compound with thechemical formulaCa3N2.[1] It exists in various forms (isomorphs), α-calcium nitride being more commonly encountered.
α-Calcium nitride adopts an anti-bixbyite structure, similar toMn2O3, except that the positions of the ions are reversed: calcium (Ca2+) take the oxide (O2−) positions and nitride ions (N3−) the manganese (Mn3+). In this structure, Ca2+ occupies tetrahedral sites, and the nitride centres occupy two different types of octahedral sites.[2]
Calcium nitride is formed along with the oxide,CaO, when calcium burns in air. It can be produced by direct reaction of the elements:[3]
It reacts with water or even the moisture in air to giveammonia andcalcium hydroxide:[4]
Likesodium oxide, calcium nitride absorbs hydrogen above 350 °C:
Calcium nitride.
