Question

What is the action of warm water on magnesium nitride?

Answer 1

Hint: Magnesium nitride decomposes in water. Magnesium nitride is having the chemical formula of \[M{g_3}{N_2}\].

Complete step by step answer: First let us begin by explaining what magnesium nitride is. It is an inorganic compound which comprises magnesium and nitrogen. Inorganic compounds are those compounds which generally lack both carbon and hydrogen. Its chemical formula is \[M{g_3}{N_2}\].
When the reaction occurs, you will find that the Magnesium nitride is decomposed by water to release the ammonia gas and a salt.
The balanced chemical reaction is given below.
\[M{g_3}{N_2}{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}6{H_2}O{\text{ }} \to {\text{ }}2N{H_3}{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}3Mg{\left( {OH} \right)_2}\]
Magnesium nitride + water → ammonia + magnesium hydroxide
This reaction is extremely common for compounds that contain metal nitrides.
A decomposition reaction is one where a single compound breaks down and gives us two or more compounds.
The magnesium hydroxide is insoluble in water and is also known as 'milk of magnesia'. Magnesium hydroxide is also insoluble in sodium hydroxide, which is a popular test used to distinguish between magnesium hydroxide and lead hydroxide.
Lead hydroxide dissolves in sodium hydroxide.
Magnesium hydroxide finds several uses in the pharmaceutical industry where it is commonly used to prepare antacids, laxatives etc.
Ammonia, the second product obtained has a characteristic choking smell. It turns damp red litmus paper to blue. There are several tests to check for ammonia, such as:
- When a glass rod which is dipped in conc. HCl and brought near ammonia gas, dense white fumes of announcing chloride can be seen forming.
- Nessler's reagent turns brown upon contact with ammonia gas.

Note: Ammonia is having a huge application in many industries such as the refrigeration industry; almost every big refrigeration plant uses ammonia as a refrigerant. It has a characteristic pungent smell which is very irritating to the nose. It is also use for purification of water supplies and in manufacturing of many products such as plastics, explosives, textile, etc