Magnesium forms both an oxide and a nitride when burned in air. Discuss the formation of magnesium oxide and magnesium nitride when magnesium atoms react with oxygen and nitrogen atoms.

As in the air there are oxygen and some % of nitrogen found therefore when Mg reacts with air it forms both nitride and oxide.

When magnesium atoms react with oxygen atoms, they form magnesium oxide (MgO). Here is the step-by-step process of its formation:

1. Magnesium (Mg) atoms lose two electrons each to achieve stability by achieving a full valence shell.
Mg → Mg2+ + 2e-

2. Oxygen (O) atoms gain two electrons each to achieve stability by achieving a full valence shell.
O + 2e- → O2-

3. The two magnesium ions (Mg2+) and the two oxygen ions (O2-) bond together through electrostatic attraction to form magnesium oxide.
Mg2+ + O2- → MgO

So, the overall reaction can be summarized as follows:
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

Similarly, when magnesium atoms react with nitrogen atoms, they form magnesium nitride (Mg3N2). Here is the step-by-step process of its formation:

1. Three magnesium (Mg) atoms each lose two electrons to achieve stability by achieving a full valence shell.
3Mg → 3Mg2+ + 6e-

2. Two nitrogen (N) atoms each gain three electrons to achieve stability by achieving a full valence shell.
2N + 6e- → 2N3-

3. The three magnesium ions (Mg2+) and the two nitride ions (N3-) bond together through electrostatic attraction to form magnesium nitride.
3Mg2+ + 2N3- → Mg3N2

So, the overall reaction can be summarized as follows:
3Mg + N2 → Mg3N2

In summary, when magnesium reacts with oxygen, it forms magnesium oxide (MgO), and when it reacts with nitrogen, it forms magnesium nitride (Mg3N2). Both reactions involve the transfer of electrons between atoms to achieve stability.

When magnesium (Mg) atoms react with oxygen (O2) in air, magnesium oxide (MgO) is formed. The reaction can be represented by the equation:

2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

To understand the formation of magnesium oxide, we need to know that magnesium is a reactive metal and tends to lose two electrons to become stable, forming a +2 cation. Oxygen, on the other hand, is a nonmetal that readily gains two electrons to form a -2 anion.

During the reaction, each magnesium atom loses two electrons to form two magnesium cations (Mg2+), while one oxygen molecule gains four electrons to form two oxide anions (O2-). These ions then combine to form solid magnesium oxide (MgO), which has a lattice structure of alternating positively charged magnesium ions and negatively charged oxide ions.

Now, moving onto magnesium nitride (Mg3N2), when magnesium reacts with nitrogen (N2), the reaction can be represented by the equation:

3Mg + N2 → Mg3N2

To explain the formation of magnesium nitride, we consider that magnesium tends to lose two electrons to form a +2 cation, and nitrogen tends to gain three electrons to form a -3 anion.

During the reaction, each magnesium atom loses two electrons to form a magnesium cation (Mg2+). On the other hand, each nitrogen molecule reacts with three magnesium atoms and gains six electrons in total to form two nitride anions (N3-). These ions then combine to form solid magnesium nitride (Mg3N2), which has a crystal structure consisting of alternating magnesium cations and nitride anions.

It’s important to note that both magnesium oxide and magnesium nitride are stable compounds formed through the transfer of electrons from magnesium to oxygen and magnesium to nitrogen.

I will leave the discussion to you. The equations are

2Mg + O2 ==> 2MgO
3Mg + N2 ==> Mg3N2.