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| Names | |
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IUPAC name
Zinc(II) azide
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| Other names
Zinc diazide
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3D model (JSmol)
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PubChem CID
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| Properties | |
| Zn(N3)2 | |
| Molar mass | 149.4 g/mol |
| Appearance | White solid |
| Density | 2.559 g/cm3 (α polymorph) |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Zinc azide Zn(N3)2 is an inorganic compound composed of zinc cations (Zn2+) and azide anions (N−3). It is a white, explosive solid that can be prepared by the protonolysis of diethylzinc with hydrazoic acid:
- Zn(C2H5)2 + 2 HN3 → Zn(N3)2 + 2 C2H6
Properties
Zinc azide is a coordination polymer which crystallizes in three polymorphs, all of which feature tetrahedral zinc centers and bridging azide ligands. α-Zn(N3)2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group and is stable, while the other two polymorphs are metastable. P21/n. β-Zn(N3)2 is trigonal, space group P3221, and γ-Zn(N3)2 is monoclinic, space group C2.
It is easily hydrolyzed, and attempts to prepare it in aqueous solution resulted in the precipitation of basic azides Zn(OH)2−x(N3)x (x = 0.9–1.0). Both the α- and β-forms were found to be very friction- and shock-sensitive, violently exploding in blue flashes, but can be made to decompose slowly by gentle heating, giving off nitrogen gas. In a sealed glass tube with inert atmosphere, this yields zinc nitride, Zn3N2.