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Why is the name of Si3N4 silicon nitride even though it has covalent bonds?

User Mike Ramsey
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\textrm {Silicon nitride}
\mathrm {(Si_(3)N_(4))}
\textrm {is a chemical compound containing silicon and nitrogen.}


\textrm {Due it to its high thermodynamic stability, it is relatively chemically}\\\textrm {inert and very hard in nature.}


\textrm {Until 1960, it was widely believed covalent compounds could not be}\\\textrm {sintered, a process of converting a powdered material into a solid mass.}


\textrm {Since the title of the compound was already given at the time,} \\\textrm {it was not changed later on.}

Why is the name of Si3N4 silicon nitride even though it has covalent bonds?-example-1
User Lukas Schmit
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Pure silicon nitride is difficult to produce as a fully dense material. This covalently bonded material does not readily sinter and cannot be heated over 1850°C as it dissociates into silicon and nitrogen.

User Zevi
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