Question

$Mg_{3}N_{2}$ when reacted with water gives off ammonia but HCl is not obtained when $MgCl_{2}$ reacts with water at room temperature. Explain.

Answer 1

The chemical reaction between ${ Mg }_{ 3 }{ N }_{ 2 }$ is as follows.

${ Mg }_{ 3 }{ N }_{ 2 }\quad +\quad 6{ H }_{ 2 }O\quad \rightarrow \quad Mg(OH{ ) }_{ 2 }\quad +\quad 2N{ H }_{ 3 }$

Magnesium chloride is not a strong electrolyte therefore, it does not hydrolyse.

${ Mg }_{ 3 }{ N }_{ 2 }$ is treated with water to form ammonia.

But, ${ Mg }{ Cl }_{ 2 }$ is treated with water at room temperature it does not  form hydrogen chloride because magnesium chloride does not hydrolyse easily.