Silver nitride

Silver nitride

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Names
IUPAC name Silver nitride
Other names fulminating silver
Identifiers
CAS Number	20737-02-4 N
ChemSpider	10746013 Y
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
InChI InChI=1S/3Ag.N/q3*+1;-3 Y Key: XSNQEMWVLMRPFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/3Ag.N/q3*+1;-3 Key: XSNQEMWVLMRPFR-UHFFFAOYAP
SMILES [Ag+].[Ag+].[Ag+].[N-3]
Properties
Chemical formula	Ag3N
Molar mass	337.62
Appearance	Black solid
Density	9 g/cm3
Structure
Crystal structure	face centered cubic
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Silver nitride is an explosive chemical compound with symbol Ag₃N. It is a black, metallic-looking solid which is formed when silver oxide or silver nitrate is dissolved in concentrated solutions of ammonia, causing formation of a silver-amide or imide complex which subsequently breaks down to Ag₃N. The standard free energy of the compound is about +315 kJ/mol, making it an endothermic compound which decomposes explosively to metallic silver and nitrogen gas.

History

Silver nitride was formerly referred to as fulminating silver, but this can cause confusion with silver fulminate, or silver azide, other compounds which have also been referred to by this name. The fulminate and azide compounds do not form from ammoniacal solutions of Ag₂O.

Properties

Silver nitride is poorly soluble in water, but decomposes in mineral acids; decomposition is explosive in concentrated acids. It also slowly decomposes in air at room temperature and explodes upon heating to 165 °C.

Hazards

Silver nitride is often produced inadvertently during laboratory experiments involving silver compounds and ammonia, leading to surprise detonations. Whether silver nitride is formed depends on the concentration of ammonia in the solution. Silver oxide in 1.52 M ammonia solution readily converts to the nitride, while silver oxide in 0.76 M solution does not form nitride. Silver oxide can also react with dry ammonia to form Ag₃N. Silver nitride is more dangerous when dry; dry silver nitride is a contact explosive which may detonate from the slightest touch, even a falling water droplet. It is also explosive when wet, although less so, and explosions do not propagate well in wet deposits of the compound. Because of its long-term instability, undetonated deposits of Ag₃N will lose their sensitivity over time.

Silver nitride may appear as black crystals, grains, crusts, or mirrorlike deposits on container walls. Suspected deposits may be dissolved by adding dilute ammonia or concentrated ammonium carbonate solution, removing the explosion hazard.

Other uses of the term

The name "silver nitride" is sometimes also used to describe a reflective coating consisting of alternating thin layers of silver metal and silicon nitride. This material is not explosive, and is not a true silver nitride. It is used to coat mirrors and shotguns.

See also

• Silver azide