Silver azide

Silver azide
Identifiers
CAS number	13863-88-2
Properties
Molecular formula	AgN3
Molar mass	149.888 g/mol
Appearance	colourless solid
Density	4.42 g/cm3, solid
Melting point	250 °C, explosive
Boiling point	decomp.
Solubility in other solvents	2.0x10-8 g/L
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Silver azide is the chemical compound with the formula AgN₃. This colourless solid is a well-known explosive.

Structure and chemistry

Silver azide can be prepared by treating an aqueous solution of silver nitrate with sodium azide. The silver azide precipitates as a white solid, leaving sodium nitrate in solution.

AgNO₃ (aq) + NaN₃ (aq) → AgN₃ (s) + NaNO₃ (aq)

X-ray crystallography shows that AgN₃ is a coordination polymer with square planar Ag⁺ coordinated by four azide ligands. Correspondingly, each end of each azide ligand is connected to a pair of Ag⁺ centers. The structure consists of two-dimensional AgN₃ layers stacked one on top of the other, with weaker Ag–N bonds between layers. The coordination of Ag⁺ can alternatively be described as highly distorted 4 + 2 octahedral, the two more distant nitrogen atoms being part of the layers above and below.^[1]

Part of a layer	Layer stacking	4 + 2 coordination of Ag+	2 + 1 coordination of N in N−3

In its most characteristic reaction, the solid decomposes explosively, releasing nitrogen gas:

2 AgN₃ (s) → 3 N₂ (g) + 2 Ag (s)

Safety

AgN₃, like most heavy metal azides, is dangerously explosive.

References

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