Does Calcium React with Nitrogen?

Yes, calcium reacts with nitrogen.

Calcium metal (Ca) reacts directly with nitrogen gas (N₂) to form calcium nitride (Ca₃N₂), an ionic compound. This reaction occurs at elevated temperatures.

The Reaction:

The chemical equation for the reaction is:

3Ca(s) + N₂(g) → Ca₃N₂(s)

Explanation:

• Calcium (Ca): A Group 2 alkaline earth metal with two valence electrons. It readily loses these two electrons to form a Ca²⁺ cation.
• Nitrogen (N₂): Nitrogen exists as a diatomic molecule with a very strong triple bond, making it relatively unreactive under normal conditions. However, at high temperatures, this bond can be broken.
• Calcium Nitride (Ca₃N₂): An ionic compound consisting of calcium cations (Ca²⁺) and nitride anions (N^3-). The nitride ion has a -3 charge due to nitrogen's tendency to gain three electrons to achieve a stable octet.

Properties of Calcium Nitride:

• Calcium nitride is a brittle, yellow-brown solid.

• It reacts with water to produce calcium hydroxide and ammonia:

  Ca₃N₂(s) + 6H₂O(l) → 3Ca(OH)₂(aq) + 2NH₃(g)

Significance:

The reaction between calcium and nitrogen demonstrates the reactivity of alkaline earth metals with nonmetals to form ionic compounds. It is also an example of a direct combination reaction.