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Electride
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An electride is an ionic compound in which an electron is the anion.[1] The first electrides to be studied in depth were solutions of alkali metals in ammonia.[2] When sodium metal dissolves in ammonia, the result is a blue solution consisting of [Na(NH3)6]+ and solvated electrons. Such solutions are powerfully reducing, as demonstrated by their use in Birch Reductions. Evaporation of these blue solutions affords a mirror of Na. Such solutions slowly lose their colour as the electrons reduce ammonia:
- [Na(NH3)6]+e- + NH3 → [Sodium amide|NaNH2] + H2
Addition of 2,2,2-cryptand to a solution of [Na(NH3)6]+e- affords [Na(2,2,2-crypt)]+e-. Evaporation of these solutions yields a blue-black paramagnetic salt with the formula [Na(2,2,2-crypt)]+e-. Such salts decompose above 240 K. In these salts, the electron is delocalized between the cations. Electrides are paramagnetic and Mott insulators.
- ^ Dye, J. L. "Electrons as Anions" Science 2003, Volume 301, pp. 607 - 608. DOI: 10.1126/science.1088103
- ^ Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.