Sodium Nitride Formula - Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹. It is a metal and it has a +1 charge. Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol N and its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p³. It is a nonmetal and it has a -3 charge to balance it we can write the formula for Sodium Nitride is Na₃N. Sodium Nitride does not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. So it is highly unstable and can easily decompose to form sodium and nitrogen ions.  

Sodium Nitride is an inorganic compound that consists of sodium and nitrogen. The symbol of sodium is Na and its atomic number is 11 and it's electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 4s¹ Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol N and its atomic number is 7 and it's electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p³.

Sodium Nitride is an extremely unstable inorganic chemical. It's made by combining atomic particles and depositing sodium at a low temperature. It has a density of 2.26g/mL and is a white crystalline solid. It's utilized as a salt alternative and as a food preservative. Sodium Nitride (Na₃N) is an ionic substance having the chemical formula Na₃N. Interactions between metals and non-metals give rise to all ionic substances.

Sodium Nitride

Sodium Nitride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na₃N. It can be generated by combining the elements of Sodium and Nitrogen settled on the low-temperature sapphire substrate. 

Sodium Nitride is an inorganic compound that consists of sodium and nitrogen. The symbol of sodium is Na and its atomic number is 11 and its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 4s¹ Nitrogen is a chemical element with the symbol N and its atomic number is 7 and its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p³.

Sodium Nitride is an extremely unstable inorganic chemical. It's made by combining atomic particles and depositing sodium at a low temperature. It has a density of 2.26g/mL and is a white crystalline solid. It's utilized as a salt alternative and as a food preservative. Sodium Nitride (Na₃N) is an ionic substance having the chemical formula Na₃N. Interactions between metals and non-metals give rise to all ionic substances.

Structure of Sodium Nitride 

In this structure, the central atom is nitrogen attached to three sodium atoms. Sodium Nitrite is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na₃N. The Structure of Sodium Nitride is shown below:

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To draw this structure for Na₃N Sodium Nitride is an ionic compound with metal and non-metal. In this ionic compound valency electrons transformed from metal to non-metal so that's why we have three Na ions and then N. Sodium is in group I in the periodic table it has one valency electron. Nitrogen is in group 15 in the periodic table and it has five valency electrons so because this is ionic compound sodium is going to transfer its valency electron to the nitrogen so it's got +1 charge Nitrogen gains three valency electrons so it got 3- charge. The negative charge attracts the positive charge so it forms the ionic bond.

Preparation of Sodium Nitride

• Sodium Nitride can be produced when Sodium Amide is decomposed it gives Sodium Nitride hydrogen.

3 NaNH₂ + Heat  ⇢  Na₃N + H₂

• Another method to prepare Sodium Nitride is to react sodium with plasma-activated nitrogen on a metal surface as shown below:  

2 N₂ + 3 Na  ⇢  Na₃N + 3/2 N₂

Properties of Sodium Nitride 

• Sodium Nitride molecular weight is 82.98 g/mol.
• Its density is 2.17 g/cm³.
• It's boiling point is :It's does not have boiling point and it's melting point is 87^οC.
• Sodium Nitride is an inorganic compound with the formula Na₃N.
• It is a reddish brown or a dark blue solid. It can soluble in water.
• Sodium Nitride is unstable it rapidly decomposes into its constituent elements according to the equation:

2Na₃N  ⇢  6 Na + N₂

• Sodium Nitride reacts with hydrochloride to gives sodium chloride and ammonia,

Na₃N   +3 HCl  ⇢  3 NaCl +NH₃ 

• Sodium Nitride reacts with water to gives Sodium hydroxide and ammonia,

Na₃N + 3 H₂O  ⇢  3 NaOH + NH₃

Harmful Effects of Sodium Nitride

• Sodium Nitride irritates the eyes and nose
• It may cause gastroenteritis and abdominal pains
• Repeated doses may cause headaches and mental impairment
• It may cause skin irritation and eye irritation including redness, itching, and pain
• It may cause nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, irregular breathing, coma, and death can occur should this conversion take place.

Uses Of Sodium Nitride Nitride 

• Sodium Nitride is used as a food preservative and as a salt substitute
• It is used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning
• It is used as  a microbial agent in meat and  fish
• It supports in keeping all types of food items in huge quantities.

Sample Questions

Question 1: Does sodium react with nitrogen?

Answer:

Sodium does not react with nitrogen so sodium is usually kept immersed in a nitrogen atmosphere. It is significantly more reactive in the air as a liquid than as a solid and the liquid can be ignited at about 125^οC. It hardly reacts with carbon.

Question 2: Why sodium is metal?

Answer:

Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na. It is a highly reactive metal because it is a good conductor of electricity malleable and ductile. It can lose electros easily from the valance shell whereas carbon is a bad conductor of electricity not malleable.

Question 3: Why Nitrogen is essential for life?

Answer:

Nitrogen is one of the essential elements for life. This is because of that Nitrogen is the main constituent of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins and nucleic acids. It is an essential nutrient for sustaining life on earth. It is found in soil and plants in the water we drink and in the air we can breathe so it is essential.

Question 4: Why Sodium Nitride is unstable?

Answer:

Sodium Nitride is an inorganic compound which means it does not have carbon-hydrogen bonds. Sodium Nitrides are highly unstable alkali metals.