Magnesium nitride 3716272 215513144 2008-05-28T15:09:15Z DOI bot 6652755 Citation maintenance. You can [[WP:DOI|use this bot]] yourself! Please [[User:DOI_bot/bugs|report any bugs]]. {{Chembox new | Name = Magnesium nitride | ImageFile = Magnesium nitride.jpg <!-- | ImageSize = 200px --> | ImageName = | IUPACName = Magnesium nitride | OtherNames = | Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers | SMILES = | CASNo = | RTECS = }} | Section2 = {{Chembox Properties | Formula = Mg<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> | MolarMass = 100.9494 g/mol | Appearance = greenish yellow powder | Density = | Solubility = | MeltingPt = 800°C | BoilingPt = 700°C | pKa = | pKb = | Viscosity = }} | Section3 = {{Chembox Structure | MolShape = | Coordination = | CrystalStruct = | Dipole = }} | Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards | ExternalMSDS = [http://espi-metals.com/msds's/Magnesium%20Nitride.htm External MSDS] | MainHazards = | FlashPt = ?°C | RPhrases = | SPhrases = }} | Section8 = {{Chembox Related | OtherAnions = | OtherCations = | OtherCpds = }} }} '''Magnesium nitride''', Mg<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub>, is an [[inorganic compound]] of [[magnesium]] and [[nitrogen]]. At room temperature and pressure it is a greenish yellow powder. It reacts with water to produce [[ammonia]] gas, as do many metal [[nitride]]s. Mg<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> + 6H<sub>2</sub>O → 3Mg(OH)<sub>2</sub> + 2NH<sub>3</sub> Magnesium Nitride can be produced by burning magnesium metal in a pure nitrogen atmosphere. 3Mg + N<sub>2</sub> → Mg<sub>3</sub>N<sub>2</sub> In fact, when magnesium is burned in air, some magnesium nitride is formed in addition to the principal product, [[magnesium oxide]]. ==Uses== Magnesium nitride was the [[catalyst]] in the first practical synthesis of [[borazon]] (cubic [[boron nitride]]).<ref>{{cite journal | author = R. H. Wentorf, Jr. | authorlink = Robert H. Wentorf, Jr. | year = 1961 | month = March | title = Synthesis of the Cubic Form of Boron Nitride | journal = Journal of Chemical Physics | volume = 34 | issue = 3 | pages = 809–812 | doi = 10.1063/1.1731679 }}</ref> [[Robert H. Wentorf, Jr.]] was trying to convert the hexagonal form of boron nitride into the cubic form by a combination of heat, pressure, and a catalyst. He had already tried all the logical catalysts (for instance, those that catalyze the synthesis of [[diamond]]), but with no success. Out of desperation and curiosity (he called it the "make the maximum number of mistakes" approach<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/51-100/article61_body.html | title = Discovering a Material That's Harder Than Diamond | accessmonthday = June 28 | accessyear = 2006 | author = Robert H. Wentorf, Jr. | year = 1993 | month = October | work = R&D Innovator }}</ref>), he added some magnesium wire to the hexagonal boron nitride and gave it the same pressure and heat treatment. When he examined the wire under a microscope, he found tiny dark lumps clinging to it. These lumps could scratch a polished block of [[boron carbide]], something only diamond was known to do. From the smell of ammonia, caused by the reaction of magnesium nitride with the moisture in the air, he deduced that the magnesium metal had reacted with the boron nitride to form magnesium nitride, which was the true catalyst. ==References== <div class="references-small"><references /></div> [[Category:Nitrides]] [[Category:Magnesium compounds]] [[da:Magnesiumnitrid]] [[de:Magnesiumnitrid]]