Question

Magnesium reacts with nitrogen to form magnesium nitride. The chemical formula for this reaction is $Mg + {N_2} \to Mg{N_2}$​. What is the product, or what are the products, of this reaction?

Answer 1

Magnesium Nitride is also known as Trimagnesium Dinitride. This inorganic compound consists of different atoms of magnesium and Nitrogen. In nature it is found as mineral nitro magnesite.

Complete answer:
When magnesium is heated at a very high temperature in presence of Dinitrogen it forms magnesium nitride. The balanced chemical equation can be given as:
$3Mg + {N_2}\xrightarrow{\Delta }M{g_3}{N_2}$
The product of this reaction is Magnesium Nitride. The above reaction can be a synthesis and a combination both, as two reactants react to form a single product. The chemical formula of Magnesium Nitride is $M{g_3}{N_2}$. It has a molecular mass of $100.95g/mol$. The structure of the molecule consists of three magnesium cations (i.e., ${1500^ \circ }C$) and two different Nitrogen (III) Anions (i.e.${N^{3 - }}$). Magnesium Nitride can be prepared by heating magnesium at very temperatures with Nitrogen. It is a pale-yellow colour powder with a melting point of ${1500^ \circ }C$. Above this temperature it decomposes to form nitrogen gas. It is partially soluble in water and completely soluble in organic solvents like ethanol, methanol and ammonia. It is also soluble in acids.
The product Magnesium Nitride can undergo hydrolysis to give Magnesium Hydroxide and Ammonia Gas. The reaction can be shown as:
$M{g_3}{N_2}_{(s)} + 6{H_2}{O_{(l)}} \to 3Mg{(OH)_{2(aq)}} + 2N{H_{3(aq)}}$

Note:
Magnesium Nitride is a very hard compound and has a ceramic nature. It has some thermal conductivity, hardness, wear resistant and corrosion resistive properties as well. It can be useful in the process of synthesizing new materials, like alloys with different types of ceramics. Magnesium Nitride is used as a catalyst for preparation of Borazon.