Neptunium nitride

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Neptunium nitride
Names
Other names
neptunium mononitride, azanylidyneneptunium, neptunium(III) nitride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/N.Np/q-3;+3
    Key: CONMGCPYTMDXHG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Np+3].[N-3]
Properties
NNp
Molar mass 251 g·mol−1
Appearanceblack crystals
Density 14.18 g/cm3
Melting point 2,557 °C (4,635 °F; 2,830 K)
insoluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Neptunium nitride is a binary inorganic compound of neptunium and nitrogen with the chemical formula NpN. [1] [2]

Contents

Preparation

Neptunium nitride can be prepared by the reaction of freshly obtained neptunium hydride and ammonia: [3]

NpH3 + NH3 → NpN + 3H2

The reaction of neptunium and nitrogen can also obtain neptunium nitride:

2Np + N2 → 2NpN

Physical properties

Neptunium nitride forms black crystals in the cubic system with Fm3m space group. [4] [5] It is insoluble in water [6] and decomposes if heated. [7]

2NpN → 2Np + N2

Uses

Neptunium nitride is used as a target material for plutonium-238 production. [8]

237
93
Np
+ n238
93
Np

References

  1. "WebElements Periodic Table » Neptunium » neptunium nitride". webelements.com. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  2. Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (March 1953). "New Neptunium Compounds". Journal of the American Chemical Society . 75 (5): 1236–1237. Bibcode:1953JAChS..75.1236S. doi:10.1021/ja01101a067. ISSN   0002-7863.
  3. Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 4. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  4. Standard X-ray Diffraction Powder Patterns. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards. 1953. p. 64. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 740. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  6. Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 5. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  7. Olson, W. M.; Mulford, R. N. R. (September 1966). "The Melting Point and Decomposition Pressure of Neptunium Mononitride". The Journal of Physical Chemistry . 70 (9): 2932–2934. doi:10.1021/j100881a035. ISSN   0022-3654.
  8. Peruski, Kathryn M. (2022). "Neptunium mononitride as a target material for Pu-238 production". Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering. 1. doi: 10.3389/fnuen.2022.1044657 . ISSN   2813-3412.