Magnesium nitride, Mg3N, undergoes a thermo decomposition reaction to form magnesium metal and nitrogen gas. a. True
b. False

a. True

Explanation:

Magnesium nitride, Mg₃N, is a binary salt. Upon heating, it decomposes into magnesium metal and nitrogen gas. The unbalanced equation is:

Mg₃N(s) ⇒ Mg(s) + N₂(g)

We can balance it with the trial and error method. First, we will balance N atoms by multiplying Mg₃N by 2.

2 Mg₃N(s) ⇒ Mg(s) + N₂(g)

Then, we get the balanced equation by multiplying Mg by 6.

2 Mg₃N(s) ⇒ 6 Mg(s) + N₂(g)

why do the isotopes of a particular element behave differently in nuclear reactions but the same in chemical reactions? chemical reactions involve changes to electrons in an atom; isotopes do not differ in electrons, and so they react the same way during chemical changes.