Thallium azide, , is a yellow-brown crystalline solid poorly soluble in water. Although it is not nearly as sensitive to shock or friction as

lead azide Lead(II) azide is an inorganic compound. More so than other azides, is explosive. It is used in detonators to initiate secondary explosives. In a commercially usable form, it is a white to buff powder. Preparation and handling Lead(II) azide is ...

, it can easily be

detonated Detonation () is a type of combustion involving a supersonic exothermic front accelerating through a medium that eventually drives a shock front propagating directly in front of it. Detonations propagate supersonically through shock waves with s ...

by a flame or spark. It can be stored safely dry in a closed non-metallic container.

Preparation and structure

Thallium azide can be prepared treating an aqueous solution of

thallium(I) sulfate Thallium(I) sulfate (Tl2SO4) or thallous sulfate is the sulfate salt of thallium in the common +1 oxidation state, as indicated by the Roman numeral I. It is often referred to as simply thallium sulfate. Uses During the last two centuries, Tl2SO4 ...

with sodium azide. Thallium azide will precipitate; the yield can be maximized by cooling. , , , and adopt the same structures. The azide is bound to eight cations in an eclipsed orientation. The cations are bound to eight terminal N centers.Ulrich Müller "Verfeinerung der Kristallstrukturen von KN₃, RbN₃, CsN₃ und TIN₃" Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie 1972, Volume 392, 159–166.

Safety

All

thallium Thallium is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Tl and atomic number 81. It is a gray post-transition metal that is not found free in nature. When isolated, thallium resembles tin, but discolors when exposed to air. Chemists W ...

compounds are poisonous and should be handled with care; avoid breathing any dust or fumes.

References

{{Azides Thallium(I) compounds Azides