Question

What happens when burning magnesium ribbon is introduced into a jar of nitrogen ?

Answer 1

We know that Oxygen is a good supporter of burning and almost all substances burn in the presence of Oxygen.

Still, there are some substances that burn in the absence of Oxygen.

Magnesium is one of such substance.

Magnesium ribbon continues to burn in the jar of Nitrogen forming Magnesium nitride.

The equation of reaction is as follows-

$\underset{\mathrm{Magnesium}}{3\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Nitrogen}}{{\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Magnesium}\mathrm{nitride}}{{\mathrm{Mg}}_3{\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}$