User:Praseodymium-141/Europium compounds

Pnictides
Europium(III) nitride is a black solid that can be prepared by the reaction of metallic europium im a stream of ammonia in corundum boats in fused quartz tubes at 700 °C:



In this reaction, the europium is oxidized and the hydrogen in the ammonia is reduced. Europium(III) nitride shows Van Vleck paramagnetism and crystallises in the rock salt structure. Thin films of rare earth nitrides, including europium(III) nitride, temd to form oxides in the presence of oxygen. Europium(III) phosphide can be produced from a solution of europium metal in liquid ammonia with phosphine at -78 °C. This produces hydrogen and first Eu(PH2)2 is formed, but it then decomposes to EuP and PH3. It crystallises cubically like NaCl. Pure europium(III) phosphide also shows Van Vleck paramagnetism. Arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of europium are also known.