Neptunium nitride

Neptunium nitride
Names
Other names neptunium mononitride, azanylidyneneptunium, neptunium(III) nitride
Identifiers
CAS Number	12058-90-1^Y
Properties
Chemical formula	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)
Solubility in water	insoluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Chemical compound

Neptunium nitride is a binary inorganic compound of neptunium and nitrogen with the chemical formula NpN.^[1]^[2]

Preparation

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

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

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

²³⁷
₉₃Np
+
n
→ ²³⁸
₉₃Np

References

^ "WebElements Periodic Table » Neptunium » neptunium nitride". webelements.com. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ 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.
^ Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 4. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ Standard X-ray Diffraction Powder Patterns. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards. 1953. p. 64. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 740. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ Sheft, Irving; Fried, Sherman (1950). New Neptunium Compounds. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Technical Information Division. p. 5. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
^ 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.
^ 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.