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Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements
Chapter 7, Problem 108c

When magnesium metal is burned in air (Figure 3.5), two products are produced. One is magnesium oxide, MgO. The other is the product of the reaction of Mg with molecular nitrogen, magnesium nitride. When water is added to magnesium nitride, it reacts to form magnesium oxide and ammonia gas. c. In an experiment, a piece of magnesium ribbon is burned in air in a crucible. The mass of the mixture of MgO and magnesium nitride after burning is 0.470 g. Water is added to the crucible, further reaction occurs, and the crucible is heated to dryness until the final product is 0.486 g of MgO. What was the mass percentage of magnesium nitride in the mixture obtained after the initial burning?

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1
Identify the chemical reactions involved: (1) Mg + O_2 \rightarrow MgO and (2) 3Mg + N_2 \rightarrow Mg_3N_2. When water is added, Mg_3N_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow 3MgO + 2NH_3.
Determine the mass of MgO formed from the magnesium nitride reaction. The final mass of MgO is 0.486 g, which includes MgO from both the initial burning and the reaction with water.
Calculate the mass of MgO initially present in the mixture by subtracting the mass of MgO formed from the reaction with water from the final mass of MgO.
Use stoichiometry to find the mass of magnesium nitride that reacted to form the additional MgO. Use the molar masses of Mg_3N_2 and MgO to relate the masses.
Calculate the mass percentage of magnesium nitride in the initial mixture using the formula: (mass of Mg_3N_2 / initial mass of mixture) * 100%.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction based on balanced chemical equations. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for calculating mass percentages and determining the composition of mixtures.
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Mass Percentage

Mass percentage is a way of expressing the concentration of a component in a mixture as a percentage of the total mass of the mixture. It is calculated by dividing the mass of the component by the total mass of the mixture and multiplying by 100. This concept is crucial for determining the proportion of magnesium nitride in the mixture after the burning of magnesium.
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Chemical Reactions of Magnesium

When magnesium burns in air, it reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide (MgO) and can also react with nitrogen to form magnesium nitride (Mg3N2). The subsequent reaction of magnesium nitride with water produces magnesium oxide and ammonia. Understanding these reactions is vital for analyzing the products formed and their implications in the mass calculations of the experiment.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

One way to measure ionization energies is ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), a technique based on the photoelectric effect. (Section 6.2) In PES, monochromatic light is directed onto a sample, causing electrons to be emitted. The kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is measured. The difference between the energy of the photons and the kinetic energy of the electrons corresponds to the energy needed to remove the electrons (that is, the ionization energy). Suppose that a PES experiment is performed in which mercury vapor is irradiated with ultraviolet light of wavelength 58.4 nm. (c) The kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is measured to be 1.72 × 10-18 J. What is the first ionization energy of Hg, in kJ/mol?

Textbook Question

One way to measure ionization energies is ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), a technique based on the photoelectric effect. (Section 6.2) In PES, monochromatic light is directed onto a sample, causing electrons to be emitted. The kinetic energy of the emitted electrons is measured. The difference between the energy of the photons and the kinetic energy of the electrons corresponds to the energy needed to remove the electrons (that is, the ionization energy). Suppose that a PES experiment is performed in which mercury vapor is irradiated with ultraviolet light of wavelength 58.4 nm. (d) Using Figure 7.10, determine which of the halogen elements has a first ionization energy closest to that of mercury.

Textbook Question

Potassium superoxide, KO2, is often used in oxygen masks (such as those used by firefighters) because KO2 reacts with CO2 to release molecular oxygen. Experiments indicate that 2 mol of KO2(s) react with each mole of CO2(g). (c) What mass of KO2(s) is needed to consume 18.0 g CO2(g)? What mass of O2(g) is produced during this reaction?

Textbook Question

When magnesium metal is burned in air (Figure 3.5), two products are produced. One is magnesium oxide, MgO. The other is the product of the reaction of Mg with molecular nitrogen, magnesium nitride. When water is added to magnesium nitride, it reacts to form magnesium oxide and ammonia gas. d. Magnesium nitride can also be formed by reaction of the metal with ammonia at high temperature. Write a balanced equation for this reaction. If a 6.3-g Mg ribbon reacts with 2.57 g NH3(𝑔) and the reaction goes to completion, which component is the limiting reactant? What mass of H2(𝑔) is formed in the reaction?

Textbook Question

hen magnesium metal is burned in air (Figure 3.5), two products are produced. One is magnesium oxide, MgO. The other is the product of the reaction of Mg with molecular nitrogen, magnesium nitride. When water is added to magnesium nitride, it reacts to form magnesium oxide and ammonia gas. e. The standard enthalpy of formation of solid magnesium nitride is −461.08 kJ/mol. Calculate the standard enthalpy change for the reaction between magnesium metal and ammon