Beryllium nitride, Be<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub>, is a nitride of beryllium. It can be prepared from the elements at high temperature (1100âÂÂ1500 ðC); unlike beryllium azide or BeN<sub>6</sub>, it decomposes in vacuum into beryllium and nitrogen. It is readily hydrolysed forming beryllium hydroxide and ammonia. It has two polymorphic forms cubic ñ-Be<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> with a defect anti-fluorite structure, and hexagonal ò-Be<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub>. It reacts with silicon nitride, Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> in a stream of ammonia at 1800âÂÂ1900 ðC to form BeSiN<sub>2</sub>.
Beryllium nitride is prepared by heating beryllium metal powder with dry nitrogen in an oxygen-free atmosphere in temperatures between 700 and 1400 ðC.
It is used in refractory ceramics as well as in nuclear reactors.
It is used to produce radioactive carbon-14 for tracer applications by the + n â + p reaction. It is favoured due to its stability, high nitrogen content (50%), and the very low capture cross section of beryllium for neutrons.
Beryllium nitride reacts with mineral acids producing ammonia and the corresponding salts of the acids:
In strong alkali solutions, a beryllate forms, with evolution of ammonia:
Both the acid and alkali reactions are brisk and vigorous. Reaction with water, however, is very slow:
Reactions with oxidizing agents are likely to be violent. It is oxidized when heated at 600 ðC in air.