Ammonium selenide

Ammonium selenide

Names
Other names Dimmonium selenide
Identifiers
CAS Number	66455-76-3
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
PubChem CID	15528384
InChI InChI=1S/2H3N.Se/h2*1H3;/q;;-2/p+2 Key: JISUIHCFTLLJLJ-UHFFFAOYSA-P
SMILES [NH4+].[NH4+].[Se-2]
Properties
Chemical formula	(NH4)2Se
Molar mass	115.05 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Solubility in water	Reacts
Solubility	Soluble in sodium hydroxide
Structure
Crystal structure	Orthorhombic
Related compounds
Other anions	Ammonium sulfide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Ammonium selenide is a chemical compound with the symbol (NH₄)₂Se. It is a white solid, however selenium impurities make it appear black. This has been confirmed by other experiments.

Preparation

It was first claimed to be prepared in 1898 by reacting concentrated ammonia and hydrogen selenide gas. However, this has been disproved in 1926 as it was shown that ammonium selenide was unstable in water. Instead, ammonium selenide was produced by the reaction of anhydrous ammonia and hydrogen selenide gas(made from the reaction of iron(II) selenide and hydrochloric acid). However, there is no X-ray crystallography on this compound.

Reactions

Ammonium selenide reacts with water and various acids. For example, it reacts with nitric acid to form selenic acid:

(NH₄)₂Se + 4HNO₃ + H₂O → H₂SeO₄ + 3NH₄NO₃