Syntheses and Properties
N2O5 was first reported by Deville in 1840, who prepared it by treating AgNO3 with Cl2. A recommended laboratory synthesis entails dehydrating nitric acid (HNO3) with phosphorus(V) oxide:
- P4O10 + 12 HNO3 → 4 H3PO4 + 6 N2O5
In the reverse process, N2O5 reacts with water (hydrolyses) to produce nitric acid. Thus, nitrogen pentoxide is the anhydride of nitric acid:
- N2O5 + H2O → 2 HNO3
N2O5 exists as colourless crystals that sublime slightly above room temperature. The salt eventually decomposes at room temperature into NO2 and O2.
Read more about this topic: Dinitrogen Pentoxide
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