Barium azide is an inorganic azide with the formula Ba(N3)2. It is a barium salt of hydrazoic acid. Like most azides, it is explosive. It is less sensitive to mechanical shock than lead azide.

Preparation

Barium azide may be prepared by reacting sodium azide with a soluble barium salt. Care should be taken to prevent large crystals from forming in the solution as barium azide crystals will explode if subjected to friction/shock or if fully dried. The product should be stored submerged in ethanol.[citation needed]

Uses

Barium azide can be used to make azides of magnesium, sodium, potassium, lithium, rubidium and zinc with their respective sulfates.[4]

Ba(N3)2 + Li2SO4 → 2 LiN3 + BaSO4

It can also be used as a source for high purity nitrogen by heating:

Ba(N3)2 → Ba + 3 N2

This reaction liberates metallic barium, which is used as a getter in vacuum applications.

See also

References

  1. ^ Fedoroff, Basil T.; Aaronson, Henry A.; Reese, Earl F.; Sheffield, Oliver E.; Clift, George D.; Dunkle, Cyrus G.; Walter, Hans; McLean, Dan C. (1960). Encyclopedia of Explosives and Related Items. Vol. 1. US Army Research and Development Command TACOM, ARDEC http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD0257189. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  2. ^ Tiede, Erich (1916). "Die Zersetzung der Alkali- und Erdalkali-azide im Hochvakuum zur Reindarstellung von Stickstoff". Ber. Dtsch. Chem. Ges. (in German). 49 (2): 1742–1745. doi:10.1002/cber.19160490234.
  3. ^ Audrieth, L. F. (1934). "Hydrazoic Acid and Its Inorganic Derivatives". Chem. Rev. 15 (2): 169–224. doi:10.1021/cr60051a002.
  4. ^ a b H. D. Fair; R. F. Walker, eds. (1977). Physics and Chemistry of the Inorganic Azides. Energetic Materials. Vol. 1. New York and London: Plenum Press. ISBN 9781489950093.
  5. ^ Curtius, T.; Rissom, J. (1898). "Neue Untersuchungen über den Stickstoffwasserstoff N3H". J. Prakt. Chem. (in German). 58 (1): 261–309. doi:10.1002/prac.18980580113.