Lithium azide

Lithium azide is the lithium salt of hydrazoic acid. It is an unstable and toxic compound that decomposes into lithium and nitrogen when heated.

Lithium azide

Li+       N−3 Lithium azide unit cell[1]
Names
IUPAC name lithium azide
Identifiers
CAS Number	19597-69-4
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	79536
ECHA InfoCard	100.039.237
PubChem CID	88163
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8066509
InChI InChI=1S/Li.N3/c;1-3-2/q+1;-1
SMILES [Li+].[N-]=[N+]=[N-]
Properties
Chemical formula	LiN3
Molar mass	48.96 g·mol−1
Melting point	115 °C (239 °F; 388 K)
Solubility in water	36.12 g/100 g (10 °C) 62.07 g/100 g (15.5 °C) 66.41 g/100 g (16 °C)[2]
Solubility	20.26 g/100 g (16 °C, ethanol)[2]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Safety data sheet (SDS)	External SDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation

It can be prepared by metathesis reaction between sodium azide and lithium nitrate or lithium sulfate solutions:

NaN₃ + LiNO₃ → LiN₃ + NaNO₃

2 NaN₃ + Li₂SO₄ → 2 LiN₃ + Na₂SO₄^[3]

It can also be prepared by reacting lithium sulfate with barium azide.

Ba(N₃)₂ + Li₂SO₄ → 2 LiN₃ + BaSO₄^[2]