Calcium nitride is an inorganic compound with chemical formula Ca3N2. Calcium nitride is a powder that contains calcium and nitrogen in a ratio of three to two. It is a flammable solid that should be kept away from heat and open flames.
There are a number of applications for calcium nitride, including chemical synthesis and optical materials. Calcium nitride is also used as a catalyst in the synthesis of organic compounds. In addition, calcium nitride is used as a nitride source in metathesis reactions.
Calcium nitride can be produced from calcium metal or elemental calcium. The most common method is to heat the calcium metal with nitrogen gas at high temperatures. This results in a loose crystal structure. Alternatively, calcium nitride can be produced by a series of synthesis methods.
Another method of synthesis involves a reaction of calcium carbonate with ammonia. A second method of synthesis is to heat calcium nitride with hydrogen at temperatures above 350 degC.
The price of calcium nitride will depend on the market supply and demand and on the costs of production and transportation. For example, the price of the material in China will differ from that in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
In addition to being an important material for chemical synthesis, calcium nitride is also used in the production of various nanomaterials. For instance, calcium nitride is used in the synthesis of LED phosphors. It can also be used in the production of hydrogen fuel cells.