Question

Question 36
A magnesium ribbon is burnt in oxygen to give a white compound X accompanied by emission of light. If the burning ribbon is now placed in an atmosphere of nitrogen, it continues to burn and forms a compound Y.

(a) Write the chemical formulae of X and Y.

(b) Write a balanced chemical equation, when X is dissolved in water.

Answer 1

$2\text{Mg}+{\text{O}}_2\to 2\text{MgO}$
$3\text{Mg}+{\text{N}}_2\to {\text{Mg}}_3{\text{N}}_2$

(a) $\text{X}$ is $\text{MgO}\left(\text{Magnesium oxide}\right)$ ; $\text{Y}$ is ${\text{Mg}}_3{\text{N}}_2\left(\text{Magnesium nitride}\right)$

(b) $\text{MgO}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\to {\text{Mg(OH)}}_2$