Calcium cyanamide or CaCN2 is a calcium compound used as fertilizer, first synthesized in 1898 by Adolph Frank and Nikodem Caro (Frank-Caro process). It is formed when calcium carbide reacts with nitrogen. It is commercially known as Nitrolime.
- CaC2 + N2 → CaCN2 + C
The reaction takes place in large steel chambers. An electric carbon element heats the reactants to red heat. Nitrogen is pressurised at 2 atmospheres.
It crystallizes in hexagonal crystal system with space group R3m and lattice constants a = 3.67, c = 14.85 (.10−1 nm).
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