Barium azide

Barium azide

Names
IUPAC name Barium azide
Other names Barium diazide Barium dinitride Barium(II) azide
Identifiers
Jmol-3D images	Image
SMILES [N-]=[N+]=[N-].[N-]=[N+]=[N-].[Ba+2]
Properties
Chemical formula	BaN6 Ba(N3)2
Molar mass	221.37 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Odor	Odorless
Density	2.936 g/cm3
Melting point	126 °C (259 °F; 399 K)
Boiling point	160 °C (320 °F; 433 K) (detonation starts in the range of 160-225 °C)
Solubility in water	11.5 g/100 ml (0 °C) 14.98 g/100ml (15.7 °C) 15.36 g/100ml (20.0 °C) 22.73 g/100ml (52.1 °C) 24.75 g/100ml (70.0 °C)
Solubility	Reacts with acids Insoluble in acetone, diethyl ether, CCl4, toluene
Solubility in ethanol	0.017 g/100 ml (16 °C)
Vapor pressure	~0 mmHg
Hazards
Safety data sheet	None
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Barium azide is an inorganic azide with the formula Ba(N₃)₂. Like most azides, it is explosive, though less sensitive to mechanical shock than lead(II) azide.

Properties

Chemical

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

Thermal decomposition of barium azide in an inert atmosphere yields very pure nitrogen gas, leaving behind very pure barium nitride or barium metal powder, both highly reactive in powdered form.

Ba(N₃)₂ → Ba + 3 N₂

3 Ba(N₃)₂ → Ba₃N₂ + 8 N₂

Physical

Barium azide is a white solid, soluble in water.

Explosive

Barium azide is a shock-sensitive explosive, though compared to most azides it's less sensitive. Likewise, it's relatively insensitive to impact. Wet barium azide is far less sensitive than dry barium azide. When ignited in air, it burns with a green flame and may explode if the temperature is high enough.

Availability

Barium azide is not sold since it's a sensitive explosive material. It has to be made in situ.

Preparation

Barium azide can be prepared by neutralizing barium carbonate or hydroxide with hydrazoic acid. This route is dangerous, due to the high toxicity and volatility of hydrazoic acid.

A safer route involves adding barium chloride to sodium azide and precipitate out the NaCl. The solution is further purified to obtain pure barium azide.

Projects

• Make almost any azide

Handling

Safety

Barium azide, like most azides, is highly poisonous and explosive. Handle it with proper protection.

Storage

Should be stored as wet solid, usually at 50%, and not for long periods of time.

Disposal

Can be destroyed using acidified sodium nitrite aka nitrous acid.

The resulting barium salts are treated to barium sulfate using sodium or ammonium sulfate. Do not add ammonium sulfate to barium azide directly, as that will create the sensitive explosive ammonium azide!

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• Azides
• inorganic azides