Lead Imide, PbNH

Lead Imide, PbNH, is one of the new compounds prepared by Franklin by means of reactions carried out in liquid ammonia. When lead iodide reacts with potassamide in liquid ammonia solution, the following reactions take place:

2PbI₂ + 3KNH₂ = Pb₂N₂H₃I + 3KI + NH₃.
PbI₂ + 2KNH₂ = PbNH + 2KI + NH₃.
PbI₂ + 3KNH₂ = PbNK (?) + 2KI + 2NH₃.

Lead imide may, however, be obtained by gradually adding lead iodide dissolved in liquid ammonia to a similar solution of potassamide, until a considerable quantity is produced as an orange-coloured precipitate, which is then left in contact with the liquid for twenty-four hours. When dried, lead imide is a reddish brown, dense, amorphous mass, which is very explosive.

The product Pb₂N₂H₃I, which is formed when lead iodide is in excess, is white, and is called ammono-basic lead iodide; it may have the constitution represented by the formula Pb=N-Pb-I.NH₃, but more probably is NH₂-Pb-NH-PbI.

An ammono-basic lead nitrate, or lead nitroso-nitride-ammonia, to which the formula Pb₂N(NO),nNH₃ has been attributed, is a white or pale yellow explosive compound formed by the action of potassamide on lead nitrate in liquid ammonia solution.