The
weakness of long -N-N-N-N-N- chains and the stability of the triple-bonded
N2
molecules both make long-chain nitrogen compounds explosively
unstable. A few of the shorter ones have been synthesized. Hydrazine,
H2N-NH2
, is a good rocket fuel, but the longer chain compounds are
too dangerous to handle.
If nitrogen atoms are separated by carbon atoms in chains, then the
nitrogen lone pairs do not repel significantly, and the chain is stable.
Many important organic and biological molecules are built from mixed
chains of carbon and nitrogen. Proteins, for example, have a backbone
of
-C-C-N-C-C-N-C-C-N-C-C-N-
Nitrogen atoms also make double bonds with carbon and oxygen quite
readily.