Formula CH3N3 | Appearance white powder | |
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Related compounds | ||
Methyl azide is a covalent molecule related to hydrazoic acid and other alkyl azides.
It can be prepared by a methylation of sodium azide. The first synthesis was reported in 1905. It decomposes in a first-order reaction:
CH3N3 → CH3N + N2Methyl azide might be a potential precursor in the synthesis of prebiotic molecules via nonequilibrium reactions on interstellar ices initiated by energetic galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and photons.
Safety precautions
Methyl azide is stable at ambient temperature but may explode when heated. Presence of mercury increases the sensitivity to shock and spark. Incompatible with (dimethyl malonate + sodium methylate); mercury; methanol; sodium azide; dimethyl sulfate; sodium hydroxide; hydrogen azide. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.