azide
|az-ide|
/ˈæ.zaɪd/
N3-containing anion/compound
Etymology
'azide' originates from French, specifically the word 'azote' (used for nitrogen), combined with the chemical suffix '-ide' (from Greek/Latin roots) which denotes an anion or a binary compound.
'azide' entered chemical usage in the late 19th century via German and other European chemical literature as a name for salts and derivatives of hydrazoic acid; it was formed from the combining form 'azido-' plus the suffix '-ide', and then adopted into modern English as 'azide'.
Initially it referred specifically to salts of hydrazoic acid (the azide of a metal); over time it broadened to mean the azide ion (N3−) or any compound containing the −N3 group.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the azide ion (N3−), a linear polyatomic anion composed of three nitrogen atoms; highly reactive and often studied in inorganic chemistry.
The azide ion (N3−) is often encountered in studies of reactive nitrogen species.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/07 02:20