Nitrides

When nitrogen is combined with another element, the result is nitride, which has a formal oxidation state of 3. The broad family of chemicals known as nitrides has a diverse variety of characteristics and uses. Because it is so basic that it would be protonated right away, the nitride ion, N3, is never seen in protic solutions. Its ionic radius is thought to be 140 pm. Due to their high lattice energy, which represents the strong attraction of "N3" for the metal cation, nitrides, like carbides, are frequently refractory materials. As a result, cutting tools and hard coatings are made from cubic boron nitride, titanium nitride, and silicon nitride. Similar to molybdenum disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride is a good high-temperature lubricant that assumes a layered structure. Nitride compounds frequently have wide band gaps, making them insulators or wide-bandgap semiconductors. Silicon nitride and boron nitride are two examples. Gallium nitride, a wide-band gap material valued for its ability to emit blue light in LEDs, was developed by scientists and awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics.