Magnesium Nitride(Mg3N2) Properties(25Facts You Should Know)

Magnesium nitride (Mg₃N₂) is a chemical compound. It is composed of three magnesium atoms and two nitrogen atoms. Let us keenly discuss some of the properties of (Mg₃N₂).

Magnesium nitride can be prepared by treating dry nitrogen or ammonia with magnesium. Its crystal structure can be used as a catalyst for synthesizing Borazon and light-emitting diodes. Magnesium Nitride have the capacity of high corrosion resistance. This property of magnesium nitride makes it highly fertile. 

This article studies magnesium nitride’s properties, like its chemical classification, magnetic character, melting, and boiling point.

Magnesium nitride IUPAC name

Magnesium nitride IUPAC‘s name is magnesium nitride also called trimagnesium dinitride.

Magnesium nitride chemical formula

The chemical formula of Mg₃N₂ is magnesium nitride. The atomic symbol for Magnesium is M, and for nitrogen, it is N.

Magnesium nitride CAS number

The CAS registry number of magnesium nitride is 12057-71-5 (It is an authentic numeric identifier which can contain up to digits).

Magnesium nitride ChemSpider ID

The ChemSpider ID of magnesium nitride is 10605770.

Magnesium nitride chemical classification

• Magnesium nitride is an inorganic compound.

• The constant lattice value of Mg₃N₂ films is about 0.996nm.
• Increasing the sputtering power and substrate temperature can improve the crystalline quality of Mg₃N₂ films.
• Magnesium nitride is like ceramic.
• Magnesium nitride has high-temperature resistance & wear resistance.

Magnesium nitride molar mass

The molar mass of magnesium nitride is 100.9494 g/mol. 

Magnesium nitride color

Magnesium nitride is in greenish-yellow color.

Magnesium nitride viscosity

Viscosity is not applicable for magnesium nitride because of its high melting point.

Magnesium nitride molar density

The molar density of magnesium nitride is 0.0268mol/cm³. Molar density is reckoned by dividing the molar mass by density. So the molar density of magnesium nitride is 2.71/100.9494=0.0268 mol/cm³.

Magnesium nitride melting point

Magnesium nitride has the melting point of 1500⁰ C. This elevated melting point is due to the crystalline form of magnesium nitride.so there exists strong attraction forces are present between the atoms.

Magnesium nitride boiling point

The boiling point is unworkable for magnesium nitride. But it can decompose at the temperature of 626°F.

Magnesium nitride state at room temperature

At room temperature, magnesium nitride exists as a white crystalline solid because its melting point is more than the room temperature.

Magnesium nitride ionic/covalent bond

The bond between magnesium and nitrogen in magnesium nitride is purely ionic because magnesium ion donates its three electrons to nitride ion, so bond formation takes.

Magnesium nitride ionic radius

The ionic radius for molecules is not molecules, but we can calculate the ionic radii of each atom separately. The ionic radii of magnesium and nitride ions are 66pm and 140pm.

Magnesium nitride electron configurations

According to Hund’s rule, the electron configuration is the filling of orbital electrons of an atom/molecule in its electronic shell. Let us see of Mg₃N₂ electronic configuration.

The electronic configuration of nitrogen and magnesium in magnesium nitride is [Ne]3S² and 1S² 2S² 2P³. Each Magnesium ion has two valency electrons.

Magnesium nitride oxidation state

In magnesium nitride, the oxidation state of each magnesium is +2 because it donates its two outermost valency shell electrons to the nitrogen. Parallelly, nitrogen exhibits a -3 oxidation state because it accepts 3 electrons from magnesium.

Magnesium nitride acidity/alkaline

Magnesium nitride is acidic because its p^H is between 5-7. The nitride ions pull the magnesium’s electron cloud, which makes the molecule accept the electrons.

Is magnesium nitride odorless?

Magnesium nitride is an odorless crystalline compound.

Is magnesium nitride paramagnetic?

Para magnetic character is shown by the molecules having unpaired electrons in their outermost valency shell. Let us see the magnetic character of magnesium nitride.

Magnesium nitride is a nonparamagnetic compound as it does not contain any unpaired electrons in its valency shell. Each magnesium ion donates its two unpaired electrons to the electrons deficiency nitride ion to make the bond with the nitride ion.

Magnesium nitride hydrates

 Magnesium nitride is undetected in any hydrate form because of its high melting point.

Magnesium nitride crystal structure

The crystal structure of magnesium nitride is like corundum and crystallizes in space group cubic with crystal lattice parameters a=b=c= 10.02 Å and α=β=ɣ= 90.00⁰.

Magnesium nitride polarity and conductivity

• Magnesium nitride is a polar molecule because magnesium ions donate their valency electrons to nitride ions to make the bond with it.
• Magnesium nitride has high thermal conductivity with a wide band gap of about 2.8 eV, and it is an optoelectronic material in the blue-violet wavelength range.

Magnesium nitride reaction with acid

Magnesium nitride reacts with metals like HCl and H₂SO₄ to form magnesium chlorides, ammonium sulfates, and magnesium nitrates.

Mg₃N₂ + 8HCl →3MgCl₂ +2NH₄Cl

Mg₃N₂ + 4H₂SO₄ →3MgSO₄ + H₈N₂O₄S

3Mg₃N₂ +28HNO₃ →9Mg (NO₃)₂ +16NO +14H₂O

Magnesium nitride reaction with base

Magnesium nitride can undergo a reaction with bases to form magnesium oxide.

3CaO + Mg₃N₂ → 3MgO + Ca₃N₂

Magnesium nitride reaction with oxide

Magnesium nitride can react with sodium oxide to form magnesium oxide and sodium nitride.

Mg₃N₂ + 3Na₂O → 3MgO + 2Na₃N

Mg₃N₂ + 3K₂O→ 3MgO + 2K₃N

Magnesium nitride reaction with the metal

magnesium nitride reacts with sodium metal to form sodium nitride and magnesium

6Na + Mg₃N₂ → 2Na₃N + 3Mg

Conclusion

Magnesium nitride can be used to synthesize fabricated diamonds and for distinct alloy-blowing agents. Catalyzed polymers can be synthesized by using this magnesium nitride.