Neptunium nitride
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| OtherNames = neptunium mononitride, azanylidyneneptunium, neptunium(III) nitride
| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 12058-90-1
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| SMILES = [Np+3].[N-3]
| StdInChI=1S/N.Np/q-3;+3
| StdInChIKey = CONMGCPYTMDXHG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
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| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties
| Np=1|N=1
| Appearance = black crystals
| Density = 14.18 g/cm3
| Solubility = insoluble
| MeltingPtC = 2557
| BoilingPtC =
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| Section4 = {{Chembox Structure
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| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards
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|Section6={{Chembox Related
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Neptunium nitride is a binary inorganic compound of neptunium and nitrogen with the chemical formula {{chem2|NpN}}.{{cite web |title=WebElements Periodic Table » Neptunium » neptunium nitride |url=https://webelements.com/compounds/neptunium/neptunium_nitride.html |publisher=webelements.com |access-date=5 February 2024}}{{cite journal |last1=Sheft |first1=Irving |last2=Fried |first2=Sherman |title=New Neptunium Compounds |journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society |date=March 1953 |volume=75 |issue=5 |pages=1236–1237 |doi=10.1021/ja01101a067 |bibcode=1953JAChS..75.1236S |language=en |issn=0002-7863}}
Preparation
Neptunium nitride can be prepared by the reaction of freshly obtained neptunium hydride and ammonia:{{cite book |last1=Sheft |first1=Irving |last2=Fried |first2=Sherman |title=New Neptunium Compounds |date=1950 |publisher=U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c1bcqdRlz4IC&dq=neptunium+nitride+NpN&pg=PA4 |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en}}
:{{chem2|NpH3 + NH3 -> NpN + 3H2}}
The reaction of neptunium and nitrogen can also obtain neptunium nitride:
:{{chem2|Np + N2 -> 2NpN}}
Physical properties
Neptunium nitride forms black crystals in the cubic system with Fm3m space group.{{cite book |title=Standard X-ray Diffraction Powder Patterns |date=1953 |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards |page=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kFAM9FKYsIkC&dq=neptunium+nitride+NpN&pg=RA4-PA64 |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Sheft |first1=Irving |last2=Fried |first2=Sherman |title=New Neptunium Compounds |date=1950 |publisher=U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division |page=740 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c1bcqdRlz4IC&dq=neptunium+nitride+NpN&pg=PA4 |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en}} It is insoluble in water{{cite book |last1=Sheft |first1=Irving |last2=Fried |first2=Sherman |title=New Neptunium Compounds |date=1950 |publisher=U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division |page=5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c1bcqdRlz4IC&dq=neptunium+nitride&pg=PA5 |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en}} and decomposes if heated.{{cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=W. M. |last2=Mulford |first2=R. N. R. |title=The Melting Point and Decomposition Pressure of Neptunium Mononitride |journal=The Journal of Physical Chemistry |date=September 1966 |volume=70 |issue=9 |pages=2932–2934 |doi=10.1021/j100881a035 |language=en |issn=0022-3654}}
:{{chem2|2NpN -> 2Np + N2}}
Uses
Neptunium nitride is used as a target material for plutonium-238 production.{{cite journal |last1=Peruski |first1=Kathryn M. |title=Neptunium mononitride as a target material for Pu-238 production |journal=Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering |date=2022 |volume=1 |doi=10.3389/fnuen.2022.1044657 |doi-access=free |issn=2813-3412}}
:{{ComplexNuclide|neptunium|237}} + {{Subatomic particle|neutron}} → {{ComplexNuclide|neptunium|238}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Neptunium compounds}}
{{Nitrides}}
{{inorganic-compound-stub}}