1. NItrates
1.1. Brief
1.1.1. Salt of metal wth nitric acid
1.2. Preparation
1.2.1. Neutralisation of nitric acid with the approciate alkali
1.2.2. Action of nitric acid on a metal, a metallic oxide or carbonate
1.3. Properties
1.3.1. soluble in water
1.3.2. decomposed by heat
1.3.3. produced nitric acid when heated with concentrated sulphuric acid
1.3.4. Brown rings test for NO3-
1.4. Some important nitrates
1.4.1. potassium nitrate (KNO3)
1.4.1.1. gun powder
1.4.2. Sodium nitrate
2. nitrogen
2.1. brief
2.1.1. group VA
2.1.2. 78.1% in atmosphere
2.2. preparation
2.2.1. action of heat on ammonium nitrate (III)
2.2.2. passing ammonia gas through red-hot copper (II) oxides
2.2.3. fractional distillation
2.3. physical properties
2.3.1. colorless, odorless and tasteless
2.3.2. slightly lighter than air
2.3.3. only slightly soluble in water
2.3.4. melts at 210°C, boils at 196°C
2.4. chemical properties
2.4.1. react with reactive metals
2.4.2. react with hydrogen
2.4.3. react with oxygen
2.5. test
2.5.1. show a given gas to be nitrogen by elimination of other possibilities
3. ammonia
3.1. brief
3.1.1. hydride of nitrogen
3.1.2. pungent smell
3.1.3. very soluble in water
3.1.4. alkaline
3.2. preparation
3.2.1. Haber process
3.2.2. heating any ammonium salt with a non-volatile base
3.3. Physical properties
3.3.1. colorless gas with pungent smell
3.3.2. poisonous in large quantities
3.3.3. alkaline gas
3.3.4. less dense than water
3.3.5. easily liquified
3.3.6. most soluble gas
3.4. Chemical properties
3.4.1. react with water
3.4.2. as a reducing agent
3.4.3. react with carbon dioxide
3.4.4. acts as a precipitating agent
3.5. Test
3.5.1. smell
3.5.2. action on litmus paper
3.5.3. action with hydrochloric acid
3.6. uses
3.6.1. used in laundries as a solvent
3.6.2. used in some refrigerators as a cooling agent
3.6.3. used in the manufacture of nitric (V) acid by catalytic oxidation
3.6.4. manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers
4. Ammonium salt
4.1. brief
4.1.1. prepared by dissolving ammonia in the appropriate acid or by neutralizing aqueous ammonia with the appropriate acid
4.1.2. then separated out of solution by crystallization
4.2. properties
4.2.1. white crystalline solids, readily dissolve in water
4.2.2. decompose when heated
4.2.3. liberate ammonia when heated with bases or alkalis
4.3. Test
4.3.1. heating ammonium salts with alkali
4.4. uses
4.4.1. used as fertilizers
4.4.2. used as a weed-killer
4.4.3. used as an electrolyte in Leclanche cells
4.4.4. used in the manufacture of explosive
4.4.5. used in smelling salts to prevent dizziness and fainting
5. Oxides of Nitrogen
5.1. Dinitrogen monoxide, N2O
5.1.1. Brief
5.1.1.1. known as laughing gas
5.1.2. Physical properties
5.1.2.1. colourless, smell pleasant but sticky, neutral
5.1.2.2. Fairly soluble in water
5.1.2.3. 1.5 denser than air
5.1.2.4. Rekindles a brightly glowing splinter
5.1.2.5. readily supports the combustion of burning carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, magnesium, etc.
5.1.3. Chemical properties
5.1.3.1. Action of heat
5.1.3.1.1. decomposes rapidly at red-hot (about 600°C)
5.1.3.2. Reduction reaction
5.1.3.2.1. reduced to nitrogen when it passed over heated copper or iron.
5.1.4. Preparation
5.1.4.1. therml decomposition of ammonium nitrate (V)
5.1.4.2. heating any mixture of salts which by double decomposition will yield ammonium nitrate (V)
5.1.5. Uses
5.1.5.1. mild anesthetic for minor surgical operation
5.1.5.1.1. e.g. in dental surgery
5.2. Nitrogen monoxide,NO
5.2.1. Brief
5.2.1.1. difficult to obtain this gas in pure state because of its great affinity for oxygen
5.2.2. Preparation
5.2.2.1. Action of dilute nitric acid on copper turnings
5.2.3. Physical properties
5.2.3.1. colourless, unknown smell, sparingly soluble in water, neutral
5.2.3.2. very slightly denser than air
5.2.3.3. extinguishes even a burning splinter
5.2.3.4. support the combustion of brightly burning phosphorus and magnesium
5.3. Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, N2O4
5.3.1. brief
5.3.2. Preparation
5.3.2.1. heating the nitrates of heavy metals [ lead(III) nitrate(V) ]
5.3.3. Physical properties
5.3.3.1. Reddish brown gases, pungent smell, very soluble in water, alkali
5.3.3.2. 2.5 denser than water
5.3.3.3. ability to support combustion is intermediate between the other two oxides
5.3.4. Chemical properties
5.3.4.1. action of heat
5.3.4.2. reaction with water
5.3.4.3. reaction with alkalis
6. Nitric acid
6.1. Brief
6.1.1. known as aqua fortis (strong water)
6.2. Preparation
6.2.1. heating any nitrate (V) with concentrated sulphuric acid (less volatile acid)
6.2.2. Ostwald process
6.2.2.1. catalytic oxidation of ammonia
6.2.2.2. oxidation of nitrogen monoxide
6.2.2.3. reaction with water and oxygen to form nitric (V) acid
6.3. Physical properties
6.3.1. colourless liquid, B.P.=86°C, density=1.52g/cm3
6.3.2. very corrosive and rapidly destroys organic matter
6.4. Chemical properties
6.4.1. as an acid
6.4.2. as an oxidizing agent
6.4.3. decomposition
6.5. Uses
6.5.1. as a rocket fuel
6.5.2. Aqua regia is used as a solvent for gold and platinum
6.5.3. used in making of many nitrates and organic nitro-compounds which are used as dertillizers, dyes and explosive (TNT)