Inorganic Chemistry: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Compounds

A collection of vocabulary terms and chemical reactions involving the chemistry of Nitrogen and Phosphorus compounds, including industrial processes and laboratory tests.

Reaction of Lithium with Nitrogen

$$Li + N_{2} \rightarrow Li_{3}N$$

Reaction of Magnesium with Nitrogen

$$3Mg + N_{2} \rightarrow Mg_{3}N_{2}$$

Reaction of Beryllium with Air

$$Be + \text{air} \rightarrow BeO + Be_{3}N_{2}$$

Reaction of Copper with dilute Nitric Acid ($HNO_{3}$)

$$3Cu + 8HNO_{3} \text{ (dil)} \rightarrow 3Cu(NO_{3})_{2} + 4H_{2}O + 2NO$$

Ostwald's Process

A process for preparing nitric oxide ($NO$) using ammonia and oxygen over a $Rh/Pt$ catalyst: $4NH_{3} + 5O_{2} \xrightarrow{Rh/Pt} 4NO + 6H_{2}O$ at $500\,K$ and $9\,bar$.

Brown Ring Reaction Components

The reaction of $FeSO_{4} + H_{2}SO_{4} + NaNO_{3}$ that produces $NO + Fe_{2}(SO_{4})_{3} + NaHSO_{4}$.

Preparation of Nitrous Oxide ($N_{2}O$)

Thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate: $NH_{4}NO_{3} \xrightarrow{\Delta} N_{2}O + 2H_{2}O$.

$N_{2}O_{3}$ (Dinitrogen Trioxide) Properties

An equimolar mix of $NO$ and $NO_{2}$ that exists as a blue liquid below $-20^{\circ}C$.

Preparation of $N_{2}O_{5}$

The reaction of nitric acid with phosphorus pentoxide: $HNO_{3} + P_{4}O_{10} \rightarrow HPO_{3} \text{ (meta phosphoric acid)} + N_{2}O_{5}$.

Raschig Process

The synthesis of hydrazine ($N_{2}H_{4}$) from ammonia and sodium hypochlorite: $NH_{3} + NaOCl \rightarrow N_{2}H_{4} + H_{2}O$; it is carried out in gelatin to prevent side reactions.

Production of Ultrapure Nitrogen

Obtained by the thermal decomposition of Barium Azide: $Ba(N_{3})_{2} \xrightarrow{\Delta} Ba + 3N_{2}$.

Sodium Azide ($NaN_{3}$) in Air Bags

Decomposes upon heating to produce sodium and nitrogen gas: $2NaN_{3} \xrightarrow{\Delta} 2Na + 3N_{2}$.

Drying Agents for Ammonia ($NH_{3}$)

$NH_{3}$ cannot be dried using $H_{2}SO_{4}$, $P_{4O10}$, or $CaCl_{2}$ because it reacts with them; $CaO$ is used instead.

Preparation of Phosphine ($PH_{3}$)

Produced by heating white phosphorus ($P_{4}$) with sodium hydroxide ($NaOH$): $NaOH + P_{4} + 3H_{2}O \rightarrow 3NaH_{2}PO_{2} + PH_{3}$.

Reaction of Phosphine ($PH_{3}$) with Copper Sulfate ($CuSO_{4}$)

$3CuSO_{4} + 2PH_{3} \rightarrow Cu_{3}P_{2} \text{ (black precipitate)} + 3H_{2}SO_{4}$.

Nessler's Reagent

A solution of $(K_{2}[HgI_{4}]) + KOH$ used to detect $NH_{3}$, forming a brown precipitate known as Millon's base.

Haber's Process

The industrial production of ammonia: $N_{2} + 3H_{2} \rightleftharpoons 2NH_{3}$.

Reaction of Phosphorus ($P_{4}$) with Thionyl Chloride ($SOCl_{2}$)

$P_{4} + 8SOCl_{2} \rightarrow 4PCl_{3} + 4SO_{2} + 2S_{2}Cl_2$.

Reaction of Phosphorus ($P_{4}$) with Sulfuryl Chloride ($SO_{2}Cl_{2}$)

$P_{4} + 10SO_{2}Cl_{2} \rightarrow 4PCl_{5} + 10SO_{2}$.