Reactions
Magnesium Nitrates with metal alkaline to form the corresponding nitrate
- Mg(NO3)2 + 2NaOH → Mg(OH)2 + 2NaNO3
Since magnesium nitrate has a high affinity for water, heating the hexahydrate does not result in the dehydration of the salt. Instead, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate decomposes into magnesium oxide, oxygen, and nitrogen oxides.
- 2 Mg(NO3)2 → 2 MgO + 4 NO2 + O2
The absorption of these nitrogen oxides in water is one possible route to synthesize nitric acid. Although it is inefficient, it does not require the use of another strong acid.
Anhydrous magnesium nitrate is also used to increase the concentration of nitric acid past its azeotrope of approximately 68% nitric acid and 32% water. It is also occasionally used as a desiccant.
Read more about this topic: Magnesium Nitrate
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