Nitride: Definitions, Valency, Types, Features, Preparation, and Applications

Nitride Overview

Nitride is a chemical compound of nitrogen that is created in chemistry when nitrogen reacts with elements like boron, silicon, etc. that have reduced electronegativity. Basically, it can be found in nature in a variety of ways. Additionally, there are other kinds of nitride, including ionic, covalent, and transition metal nitride. It serves a variety of applications and possesses a variety of natural qualities. Furthermore, nitride ions have a variety of other impacts.

What is Nitride?

The nitrogen compound nitride never encounters a protic solution. The oxidation state of the nitrogen is 3. Its ionic radius is around 140 pm. A nitride ion (N3) can be found in nitride. Ionic, covalent, and interstitial are the three broad groups into which they may be divided. However, some metal nitrides are unstable and react with water to form ammonia and the oxide or hydroxide of the metal.

What is a Nitride Ion?

A nitride is created when nitrogen mixes with other elements, such as silicon, boron, metals,or other elements with lower or comparable electronegativity to nitrogen. It belongs to a distinct class of chemicals. Similar to carbides, nitrides may be divided into three main groups called interstitial, ionic, and covalent nitrides. The nitride ion is often present in nitride compounds. These substances often react with water to form the metal's hydroxide or oxide and ammonia gas.

Valency of Nitride

Nitrogen has a valency of -3. Since nitrogen has an atomic number of 7, it will be in the configuration 1s2,2s2,2p3. It indicates that it has 5 electrons in its outermost shell and requires 3 more to make an octet. Because of this, nitrogen will accept three electrons and acquire the nitride ion, which has a negative charge.

Read more about the Electropositive Elements.

Types of Nitride

According to their ability to form bonds, nitrides are divided into four main classes. Ionic or saltwater nitrides, covalent nitrides, transition metal nitrides, and molecule-forming nitrides are the four groups. The following are some of the more detailed types of nitride-

Ionic or Saline Nitrides

These nitrides are created when nitrogen is mixed with Group 3 metals, alkali metals, and alkaline earth metals. They react with hydrogen, resulting in ammonium ions.

Features of Ionic or Saline Nitrides

1. Ammonia and metal hydroxide are the end products of the hydrolysis process for these compounds, which are made up of metal cations and N3-ions.
2. However, in the case of alkaline earth metal, every component of nitride with the formula M3N2 is formed. 
3. Ionic nitrides have a great deal of stability and fluctuation.
4. Out of all alkali metals, only lithium can produce nitride.

Covalent Nitrides

Covalent nitrides are created when nitrogen joins forces with components in groups 13–15. Covalent nitrides include substances like BN, Si3N4, and others. 

Features of Covalent Nitrides

1. These nitrides are incredibly tough. 
2. They are mostly nonconductors.

Based on the element to which the nitrogen is linked, these nitrides exhibit a wide range of characteristics. The following are some significant covalent nitrides-

Transition Metal Nitrides

These are the interstitial compounds, which combine the characteristics of ionic crystals and covalent compounds. 

Features of Transition Metal Nitrides

1. The common formulas for these nitrides are MN, MN2, and MN4.
2. The nitrogen atom in these nitrides fills the spaces between the densely packed metal ions, or interstices.
3. These nitride groupings are the biggest.
4. They are extremely hard by nature and have a very high melting point.

Molecules Forming Nitrides

These nitrides are mostly formed by elements from groups 15–17. They have a low melting point and are quite flammable.

Preparation of Nitride

Nitrides can be made in two different ways. The first approach uses an element's direct reactivity when heated to a high temperature. The chemical process for creating calcium nitride is shown below-

3Ca+N2→Ca3N2

A second approach involves the heat breakdown of a metal amide, such as barium amide, which results in the release of ammonia (NH3).

4NH3 + Ba3N2 + 3Ba(NH2)2

Another way of making nitrides involves reducing an oxide or metal halide in the presence of nitrogen gas. Take the creation of aluminum nitride as an example.

Al2O3+3C+N2→2AlN+3CO

Lithium is the only alkali metal that can create an ionic nitride; however, other alkaline-earth metals can also produce nitrides with the formula M3N2.

Read more about the Electrochemical Series.

Applications of Nitride

The following are some of the uses of nitride-

1. Nitrides are good insulators or wide-bandgap semiconductors due to their high band gaps.
2. Such nitrides include, for example, BN and Si3N4.
3. Wide-bandgap GaN is a crucial material prized as an LED's blue light emitter.

Points to Remember

1. Hard coatings and material cutting are accomplished using silicon nitride and titanium nitride.
2. Hexagonal boron nitride is naturally lubricating.
3. Ionic or saline nitrides, covalent nitrides, transition metal nitrides, and molecule-forming nitrides are the four categories into which nitrides fall. 
4. Nitrogen is found in nitrides at an oxidation state of -3. 
5. Some elements, including boron, vanadium, silicon, and titanium, have nitrides that are very hard and chemically resistant.
6. The ionic radius of nitride is around 140 pm. 
7. They serve mostly as insulators. 
8. When nitrides react with water, they produce ammonia.