Ba2N

Ba2N is a chemical formula that would consist of two barium atoms and one nitrogen atom per formula unit, written in standard notation as Ba2N. There is no widely recognized, neutral binary compound with this stoichiometry in established inorganic chemistry. The well-documented barium nitride is Ba3N2, which forms when barium reacts with nitrogen at high temperature.

From a simple ionic standpoint, Ba2N would be charge-imbalanced: two Ba2+ ions contribute +4 total charge, while a single N would have to carry a −4 charge to balance, which is not consistent with nitrogen’s common −3 oxidation state in nitrides. As a result, Ba2N does not exist as a known stable, neutral compound under ordinary valence rules. In some discussions, non-stoichiometric or defect-containing phases are explored, but these are not established as Ba2N in the literature.

Ba3N2, the recognized barium nitride, is an ionic solid that forms under high-temperature, nitrogen-containing conditions. It is typically sensitive to air and moisture and can react with water to release ammonia, illustrating the reactive nature of nitrides. The compound serves as a reference point when considering barium–nitrogen chemistry and helps distinguish plausible stoichiometries from unlikely ones such as Ba2N.

If Ba2N appears in a source, it is most likely a typographical error or a shorthand for a misidentified phase (for example, Ba3N2). In scholarly contexts, the correct and widely cited barium nitride is Ba3N2.