Chemistry
Answer
When metals like Mg, Ca and Al are burnt in Nitrogen gas, they form their respective metal nitrides i.e., Magnesium Nitride, Calcium Nitride and Aluminium Nitride as the products.
When warm water is added to these metal nitrides, they undergo hydrolysis decomposing to give pungent ammonia gas. The chemical reactions for each metal is given below:
Mg to NH3
3Mg + N2 ⟶ Mg3N2
Mg3N2 + 6H2O ⟶ 3Mg(OH)2 + 2NH3 [g]Ca to NH3
3Ca + N2 ⟶ Ca3N2
Ca3N2 + 6H2O ⟶ 3Ca(OH)2 + 2NH3 [g]Al to NH3
2Al + N2 ⟶ 2AlN
AlN + 3H2O ⟶ Al(OH)3 + NH3 [g]
Related Questions
State two physical properties of NH3 which enable separation of NH3 from a mixture of NH3, N2 and H2.
State why ammonia is not obtained in the laboratory from NH4NO3 and NaOH.
State the method used with reasons for drying and collecting ammonia gas.
Give a balanced equation with all conditions to obtain NH3 from N2 and H2.