What Is The Mechanism Of Decomposition Of Silver Azide?

Silver azide (AgN3) can decompose spontaneously or upon heating, releasing nitrogen gas (N2) and leaving behind silver metal (Ag). The mechanism of this decomposition involves a nucleophilic substitution reaction followed by a rearrangement step.

Initially, the silver ion in AgN3 is coordinated to three nitrogen atoms, forming a complex. This complex is unstable and tends to release one of the nitrogen atoms as a nitrogen molecule, leaving behind Ag(N2). However, this intermediate is also unstable due to the weak bonding between the Ag and N2 molecules, and it undergoes a rearrangement reaction to form silver metal and additional N2 molecules.

The overall reaction can be represented as follows:

2 AgN3 --> 2 Ag + 3 N2

The decomposition of silver azide is highly exothermic and can result in an explosive reaction if not handled properly. Therefore, it is important to follow proper safety protocols when working with silver azide.