Sciencemadness Discussion Board

stable N4 synth with NxOx ?

franklyn - 14-6-2006 at 06:36

Doubtlessly this idea has occured to many before in years past.

The idea that in a way similar to the Haber Bosch process of

the synthesis of ammonia gas, a mix of nitrogen oxides could be

induced to merge into a smaller molar quantity by Le Chatelier’s

Principle. The hypothetical molecule tetra atomic nitrogen,

analogous to white phosphorus, may perhaps be stable if a fourth

coordination bond were made with an oxygen atom completing it's

octet with each nitrogen atom. Thus forming a compound N4O4.

What if equal volumes of Nitrous Oxide N2O , Nitric Oxide NO ,

and Nitrogen Dioxide NO2 confined in a vessel are subjected to

pressure favoring the dimerization of a composite molecule and

possibly forming N4O4. No doubt this prompts some amusment from

all knowing practitioners of the black art. It is of equal

amusement to me how ammonia has been synthesized in total

ignorance since Haber developed this idea in 1908 until 1984

when the function of iron catalysis was first understood. See ->

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v315/n6017/abs/315311a0...



An abridged excerpt of an editorial from Science (12 October 1962)


The Need for Skepticism

The synthesis of xenon tetraflouride and related compounds makes

necessary the revision of chemistry textbooks. For about 50 years,

students have been taught that noble gases are nonreactive.

Millions have absorbed this dogma and parroted it back in exams.

The first evidence that xenon might participate in chemical

combination was obtained by Neil Bartlett, who suggested that

compounds of this type might be made. The ease with which XeF4 is

made and its properties are explored is almost shocking. One can

introduce the two gases into a simple system, heat the mixture

for 1 hour at 400º C, and observe the formation of crystals.

The essential ingredient in discovering noble gas compounds was

not money or equipment, but an idea.

There is a sobering lesson here, as well as an exciting prospect.

For perhaps 15 years, at least a million scientists all over the

world have been blind to a potential opportunity to make an

important discovery. All that was required to overthrow a

respected and entrenched dogma was a few hours of effort and

a germ of skepticism.


P.S.

There doesn't seem to be an FAQ or anyone to ask about this _

what is Whimsey in the Non-chemistry section and why is it

password protected ? Is this by invitation only ?

.

[Edited on 14-6-2006 by franklyn]

DrP - 14-6-2006 at 07:24

I think you can get Kripton Fluorides as well as fluorides for most of the other noble gasses. I know the Xe one forms complexes with some metals as well.

I'm not supprised really when you think of how reactive Fluorine gas is.



"what is Whimsey in the Non-chemistry section and why is it

password protected ? Is this by invitation only ?"


It's open discussion from what I can tell. It's password protected because sometimes some sensitive subjects are disscussed (or even mocked) and I don't think we want any browsers to get offended. This is one for the moderators to answer really - send one of them a U2U for a password.

[Edited on 14-6-2006 by DrP]

unionised - 14-6-2006 at 10:38

Well, you can get half way there.
http://bromine.cchem.berkeley.edu/grppub/pes26.pdf