Plutonium nitride

Plutonium nitride is a binary inorganic compound of plutonium and nitrogen with the chemical formula PuN.^[1][2]

Plutonium nitride

Names
Other names plutonium mononitride, azanylidyneplutonium, plutonium(III) nitride
Identifiers
CAS Number	12033-54-4 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	129548931
InChI InChI=1S/N.Pu Key: DPJMGCIEQAVKAI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [N].[Pu]
Properties
Chemical formula	NPu
Molar mass	258 g·mol−1
Appearance	Grey crystalline solid
Density	14.2 g/cm3
Melting point	2,589 °C (4,692 °F; 2,862 K)
Solubility in water	insoluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

Plutonium nitride can be prepared by the reaction of plutonium hydrides with nitrogen or ammonia at a temperature of 650 °C and a pressure of 0.3 kPa.^[3]

Another method to prepare plutonium nitride is from the reduction of plutonium(III) iodide with sodium in liquid ammonia:

PuI₃ + NH₃ + 3Na → PuN + 3NaI

Other reactions can also produce plutonium nitride:^[4]

Pu + 1/₂N₂ +₃/₂H₂ → PuN + 3/₂H₂ (at 1000°C)

PuCl₃ + 1/₂N₂ +₃/₂H₂ → PuN + 3HCl (at 800–900°C)

Physical properties

Plutonium nitride forms grey crystals in the cubic system with Fm3m space group.^[5][6] It can be dissolved electrochemically.^[7]

Uses

Plutonium nitride can be used as fuel in nuclear reactors.^[8][9]