Beryllium nitride

<h2 id="preparation">Preparation</h2>
<p>Beryllium nitride is prepared by heating beryllium metal powder with dry nitrogen in an oxygen-free atmosphere in temperatures between 700 and 1400 °C.
</p>
3Be + N2  → Be3N2
<h2 id="uses">Uses</h2>
<p>It is used in <a href="/facts/Refractory/LoKrzGkR">refractory</a> ceramics<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> as well as in <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor/8xqjIbge">nuclear reactors</a>.
</p><p>It is used to produce radioactive <a href="/facts/Carbon-14/Ut8SBNNa">carbon-14</a> for tracer applications by the 147N + n → 146C + p reaction. It is favoured due to its stability, high nitrogen content (50%), and the very low capture cross section of beryllium for neutrons.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="reactions">Reactions</h2>
<p>Beryllium nitride reacts with mineral acids producing <a href="/facts/Ammonia/MtLtJFtz">ammonia</a> and the corresponding salts of the acids:
</p>
Be3N2 + 6 HCl → 3 BeCl2 + 2 NH3
<p>In strong alkali solutions, a <a href="/facts/Beryllate/lBlLHBEY">beryllate</a> forms, with evolution of ammonia:
</p>
Be3N2 + 6 NaOH → 3 Na2BeO2 + 2 NH3
<p>Both the acid and alkali reactions are brisk and vigorous. Reaction with water, however, is very slow:
</p>
Be3N2 + 6 H2O → 3 Be(OH)2 + 2 NH3
<p>Reactions with oxidizing agents are likely to be violent. It is oxidized when heated at 600 °C in air.
</p>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier ISBN 0-12-352651-5 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Hugh O. Pierson, 1996, Handbook of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides: Properties, Characteristics, Processing, and Applications, William Andrew Inc.,ISBN 0-8155-1392-5 <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Shields, R. P. (1956-02-01). THE PRODUCTION OF C$sup 14$ BY THE Be$sub 3$N$sub 2$ PROCESS (Report). Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). OSTI 4324224. <a href="https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4324224" target="_blank">https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4324224</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Beryllium nitride open-in-new

Beryllium nitride