Europium(III) nitride

Europium(III) nitride is a binary inorganic compound of europium and nitrogen with the chemical formula EuN.^[1]

Europium(III) nitride

Unit cell of europium(III) nitride determined by X-ray powder diffraction
Names
Other names Europium mononitride, azanylidyneuropium, nitridoeuropium
Identifiers
CAS Number	12020-58-5
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	74726
ECHA InfoCard	100.031.496
EC Number	234-659-2
PubChem CID	82808
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID701014194
InChI InChI=1S/Eu.N Key: PSBUJOCDKOWAGJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES N#[Eu]
Properties
Chemical formula	EuN
Molar mass	165.971 g·mol−1
Appearance	black crystals
Density	6.57 g/cm3
Solubility in water	reacts with water
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

Europium(III) nitride can be produced via the reaction of elemental europium in an ammonia stream in corundum boats in silica glass tubes. The reaction takes place at 700 °C.^[2]

2Eu + 2NH₃ → 2EuN + 3H₂

In this reaction, europium is oxidized and the hydrogen in ammonia is reduced.

Physical properties

Europium(III) nitride shows Van Vleck paramagnetism^[3] and crystallizes in the rock salt structure with a = 501.779(6) pm.^[4][5][6] Thin films of rare earth nitrides, including europium(III) nitride, tend to form oxides in the presence of oxygen.^[7] The enthalpy of formation of EuN is: ΔH₀ = 217.6±25.1 kJ/mol.^[8] The band gap for europium(III) nitride was calculated to be 2.08 eV.^[9]

Europium(III) nitride forms black crystals and reacts with water.

Uses

EuN is a semiconductor.^[10]