Mg3N2 Lewis Structure: Drawings, Hybridization, Shape, Charges,Pairs

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In this article we discuss about Mg3N2 Lewis Structure and all other facts like its hybridisation, valence electrons.

Mg3N2 , magnesium nitride is an yellow coloured powder at room temperature. It is a compound having magnesium and nitrogen.

How to draw Mg3N2 lewis structures?

The valence electrons existing in Magnesium is 2 and  that of nitrogen is 5. Here there are 3 Mg atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms. The 3 Mg atoms share their 2 valence electrons to the two nitrogen atoms present to  form an ionic compound. When the Mg shares its 2 electrons then it becomes positively charged Mg2+ ion.

The nitrogen accepts 3 electrons from 2 Mg atoms and becomes negatively charged, N3-ion. So the positively charged Mg2+ and negatively charged N3- attracts each other and forms an ionic bond. So the lewis structure of Mg3N2 can be drawn as

mg3n2 lewis structure
lewis structure of Magnesium nitride

Mg3N2  shape

22 2
shape of Mg3 N2

Mg3N2 formal charge

The formal charge of each atoms in the compound Mg3N2 ( Magnesium nitride ) can be found out through a simple equation.

Formal charge of an atom = No. of valence electrons – No. of lone pair of electrons – No. of bonds formed

Here the formal charge of each atoms in Mg3N2 can be found.

The formal charge of Mg = 2 – 0 -2

                                             = 0

The formal charge of Nitrogen = 5 -2 – 3

                                                        = 0

So the overall charge of Mg3N2 is found to be 0.

Mg3N2 octet rule

               K  L      M    N
  Magnesium   2  8  2 
  Nitrogen   2  5  
Electron distribution of Mg in various shells

Here Nitrogen needs 3 more electrons to get its octet fulfilled. But Magnesium needs either 6 electrons to be  gained or loss 2 electrons to become its octet fulfilled.

Since it is  easy to loss 2 electrons Mg losses its 2 electrons to one nitrogen. When nitrogen gains 2 electrons from one Mg and another 1 electron from another Mg its octet gets fulfilled. So in Magnesium nitride Mg3N2 the octet of both the atoms obey the octet rule.

Mg3N2 lone pair of electron

The lone pair of electrons present in each atom in a molecule can be found out through the following equation.

No. of lone pair of electron present = (valence electrons of atom – No. of electron shared) / 2

Lone pair of electrons in Mg =( 2 – 2) /2

                                                   = 0

Lone pair of electrons present in N = (5-3)/2

                                                               = 1

So the lone pairs of electrons present in Mg is 0 and that of 2 nitrogen is 2.

Mg3N2 valence electrons

The whole number of valence electrons existing in Mg3N2 is the sum of valence electrons present in 3 Mg atoms and valence electrons present in 2 N atoms.

The total valence electrons in Mg3N2 = 3*2 + 5*2

                                                                   = 6 + 10

                                                                   = 16

So the whole number of valence electrons existing in Mg3N2 is 16.

Mg3N2 Hybridisation

Hybridisation is a concept that actually we apply among covalent bonded compounds. Since Mg3N2 is an ionic compound. So the concept of hybridisation doesn’t work here.

Mg3N2 Uses

Magnesium nitride powder is used for the synthesis of many nitride compounds with high wear resistance, hardness, thermal conductivity, anti  corrosion properties. Its high temperature resistant character makes it more useful in many fields. It is also used for ceramic material preparation and as special alloy blowing agent.

Mg3N2 is ionic or covalent?

Mg donates its 2 valence electrons and become Mg2+ . Nitrogen accepts 3 electrons from two Mg and become N3-. The positive Mg2+ and negative N3- ions  attracts each other to make the  ionic bond.

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