Praseodymium(III) nitride is a binary inorganic compound of praseodymium and nitrogen. Its chemical formula is PrN. The compound forms black crystals, and reacts with water.
Preparation Praseodymium(III) nitride can be prepared by the reaction of nitrogen and metallic praseodymium on heating:
2 Pr + N2 → 2 PrN It can also be prepared from the reaction of ammonia and praseodymium metal on heating:
2 Pr + 2 NH3 → 2 PrN + 3 H2
Properties Praseodymium(III) nitride forms black crystals of a cubic system. The space group is Fm3m, with cell parameter a = 0.5165 nm, Z = 4, its structure similar to that of sodium chloride (NaCl). The compound is readily hydrolyzed with water and reacts with acids.
Applications The compound is used in high-end electric and semiconductor products, and as a raw material to produce phosphor. Also it is used as a magnetic material and sputtering target material.
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