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Neptunium nitride

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neptunium nitride
Names
Other names
neptunium mononitride, azanylidyneneptunium, neptunium(III) nitride
Identifiers
Properties
NNp
Molar mass 251 g·mol−1
Appearance black 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]

Preparation

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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:

Np + N2 → 2NpN

Physical properties

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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

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

237
93
Np
+
n
238
93
Np

References

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  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. 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.