Zinc azide

Zinc azide (Zn(N₃)₂) is an inorganic compound composed of zinc and azide. It is a white, explosive solid that can be prepared by the protonolysis of diethylzinc with hydrazoic acid:[1]

Zn(C₂H₅)₂ + 2 HN₃ → Zn(N₃)₂ + 2 C₂H₆

Zinc azide

Names
IUPAC name Zinc(II) azide
Other names Zinc diazide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	26583533
PubChem CID	131722987
InChI InChI=1S/2N3.Zn/c2*1-3-2;/q2*-1;+2 Key: QFDUTPNKBRXHTC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [N-]=[N+]=[N-].[N-]=[N+]=[N-].[Zn+2]
Properties
Chemical formula	Zn(N3)2
Molar mass	149.4 g/mol
Appearance	white solid
Density	2.559 g/cm^3 (alpha polymorph)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

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.[1]

References

1. Schulz, Axel; Villanger, Alexander (2016). "Binary Zinc Azides". Chemistry: A European Journal. 22: 2032–2038. doi:10.1002/chem.201504524.

Salts and covalent derivatives of the azide ion
HN3																	He
LiN3	Be(N3)2											B(N3)3	CH3N3, C(N3)4	N(N3)3,H2N—N3	O	FN3	Ne
NaN3	Mg(N3)2											Al(N3)3	Si(N3)4	P	SO2(N3)2	ClN3	Ar
KN3	Ca(N3)2	Sc(N3)3	Ti(N3)4	VO(N3)3	Cr(N3)3, CrO2(N3)2	Mn(N3)2	Fe(N3)2, Fe(N3)3	Co(N3)2, Co(N3)3	Ni(N3)2	CuN3, Cu(N3)2	Zn(N3)2	Ga(N3)3	Ge	As	Se(N3)4	BrN3	Kr
RbN3	Sr(N3)2	Y	Zr(N3)4	Nb	Mo	Tc	Ru(N3)6^3−	Rh(N3)6^3−	Pd(N3)2	AgN3	Cd(N3)2	In	Sn	Sb	Te	IN3	Xe(N3)2
CsN3	Ba(N3)2		Hf	Ta	W	Re	Os	Ir(N3)6^3−	Pt(N3)6^2−	Au(N3)4^−	Hg2(N3)2, Hg(N3)2	TlN3	Pb(N3)2	Bi(N3)3	Po	At	Rn
Fr	Ra(N3)2		Rf	Db	Sg	Bh	Hs	Mt	Ds	Rg	Cn	Nh	Fl	Mc	Lv	Ts	Og
		↓
		La	Ce(N3)3, Ce(N3)4	Pr	Nd	Pm	Sm	Eu	Gd(N3)3	Tb	Dy	Ho	Er	Tm	Yb	Lu
		Ac	Th	Pa	UO2(N3)2	Np	Pu	Am	Cm	Bk	Cf	Es	Fm	Md	No	Lr