Potassium nitride is an unstable chemical compound. Several syntheses were erroneously claimed in the 19th century, and by 1894 it was assumed that it did not exist.
However, a synthesis of this compound was claimed in 2004. It is observed to have the anti-
structure below , although a -type structure should be more stable. Above this temperature, it converts to an orthorhombic phase. This compound was produced by the reaction of
potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin ''kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosphe ...
metal and
liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen—LN2—is nitrogen in a liquid state at low temperature. Liquid nitrogen has a boiling point of about . It is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air. It is a colorless, low viscosity liquid that is wide ...
at under vacuum:
:6K + N
2 → 2K
3N
This compound decomposes back into potassium and nitrogen at room temperature.
This compound is unstable due to
steric hindrance
Steric effects arise from the spatial arrangement of atoms. When atoms come close together there is a rise in the energy of the molecule. Steric effects are nonbonding interactions that influence the shape ( conformation) and reactivity of ions ...
.
References
Potassium compounds
Nitrides
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