The Formula of Calcium Nitride

(The Formula of Calcium Nitride)

When it comes to writing the formula of an ionic compound, there are two rules to remember. First, always write the positive atoms in order. Second, make sure that the negative atoms are written last.

Calcium nitride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca3N2. It consists of a solid red-brown powder made up of calcium and nitrogen. It is a reactive nitride ion and can be used to create various different materials.

Synthesis of calcium nitride (Ca3N2) is accomplished by heating metallic calcium in the presence of nitrogen. This process has been known since the works of Henri de Moissan in 1898, and is a useful technique for manufacturing single crystals.

During the synthesis of calcium nitride, metallic calcium is heated to 450deg C in a stream of pure nitrogen and then nitrided after 3-4 hours. The prepared calcium nitride is black at 350degC, milky white at 350 to 1150degC, and golden yellow above 1150degC.

This nitride is easily identified because it reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide and ammonia. It is a common material used in the production of light-emitting diode phosphors.

In addition to its use in the synthesis of various chemical compounds, calcium nitride is also used for laboratory experiments. It is inexpensive and easy to obtain, making it an excellent choice for scientific research.

Synthesis of calcium nitride is a practical process that can be performed using a device such as that represented in FIG. 4. It comprises a tank 19 containing a zinc-calcium alloy in mass proportion of one third zinc for two thirds calcium, the alloy being pressurized by argon coming from a second tank 19. The molten alloy is sprayed in the form of droplets into the reactor 6 by an injector (5) and is collected in a collector unit 7 (FIG. 2) located in the lower part of the reactor.

(The Formula of Calcium Nitride)