Which gas is used to make Nitrolium?

CONCEPT:

Gas used to make Nitrolim (Calcium Cyanamide)

• Nitrolim, also known as Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2), is prepared by reacting calcium carbide with nitrogen gas.
• The reaction involves heating calcium carbide powder at about 1000 °C in an electric furnace while passing nitrogen gas for several hours.
• Nitrogen gas (N₂) is the key reactant gas used in this preparation process.

EXPLANATION:

• The chemical reaction for producing Nitrolim is:

  CaC₂ + N₂ → CaCN₂ + C

• Here, nitrogen gas reacts with calcium carbide (CaC₂) at high temperature (around 1000 °C) to form calcium cyanamide (Nitrolim) and carbon.
• Nitrolim is mainly used as a fertilizer because it decomposes in contact with water to release ammonia (NH₃), which enriches soil nitrogen content and supports plant growth.
• Additionally, Nitrolim is used in producing sodium cyanide, calcium cyanide, melamine, and in steelmaking to introduce nitrogen into the alloy.
• The use of nitrogen gas in this reaction is crucial as it provides the nitrogen atom required for the cyanamide ion formation in Nitrolim.

Therefore, nitrogen gas (N₂) is used to make Nitrolim by reacting with calcium carbide at high temperature.