Nitride of Bivalent Gold

Ammonia converts gold monoxide into a nitride containing gold and nitrogen in the atomic proportions 3:2, but different from the product formed by the interaction of ammonia and aurous oxide. The reaction is possibly expressed by the equation

3AuO+2NH₃ = Au₃N₂+3H₂O.

The substance is explosive, and is regarded by Raschig as probably having the constitution