Discovering the Synthesis Reactions: Tips and Examples for School Experiments"

[touma]

Synthesis Reactions---Help

:rofl: I am having trouble deciding two different synthesis equations for an experiment done at school.
The expermient consisted of heating magnesium and then adding a few drops of H2O. Reactions where Nirtogen, Magnesium, and H2O. The products where Ammonia, Magmesium Nitride and Magnesium Oxide.

My two equations (as I thought of it) are:
1) Mg + H2O -----> NH3
2) Mg + "X" ------>Mg"X"

I now need to figure out X...My first thought was that the X element consists of something from the air which gives me O2. Another possibility is H2.
Please help me figure out the second equation! Thanks.

 

[dav2008]

I think you answered your own question.

"The reactants were Nitrogen, Magnesium, and H₂O...The products were ammonia, magnesium nitride, and magnesium oxide". I suggest writing out the chemical formula for all of your products and reactants to make it easier to see which reactants can lead to which products

Take your first reaction, for example. You wrote Mg + H₂O -> NH₃.

Obviously this reaction is incorrect because there are no nitrogens on the left and no oxygens or Mg on the right to balance it out.

You know NH₃ has nitrogen and hydrogen in it, so which of your reactants would be logical to use to obtain those products?

 

[Blueshift5]

I can provide some guidance for your experiment. First, it's important to note that synthesis reactions involve the combination of two or more substances to form a more complex product. In your experiment, you are heating magnesium and adding H2O, which suggests that the reaction is between these two substances.

Based on the products you observed (ammonia, magnesium nitride, and magnesium oxide), it seems that the reaction involves the formation of ammonia gas (NH3) and a compound containing magnesium and nitrogen. This compound could be magnesium nitride (Mg3N2), as you mentioned, or it could also be magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2). To determine the correct compound, you would need to perform further tests and analysis.

As for the second equation, I would suggest considering the molar ratios of the reactants and products. Since you know that magnesium reacts with water to form ammonia and another compound, you can use the balanced chemical equation for this reaction to determine the molar ratio between magnesium and the other compound.

For example, the balanced equation for the reaction between magnesium and water is: Mg + 2H2O ---> Mg(OH)2 + H2. This tells us that for every 1 mole of magnesium, we would expect to see 1 mole of Mg(OH)2 and 1 mole of H2 produced. So for your second equation, you could write: Mg + "X" ---> MgX, where X represents the other compound produced in the reaction. This equation takes into account the molar ratios and would allow you to determine the identity of "X" based on the experimental data you collected.

Remember, in science, it's important to always base your conclusions and equations on evidence and data. So make sure to carefully analyze your results and perform any necessary tests to confirm your findings. Good luck with your experiment!