Sciencemadness Discussion Board

MgNH4PO4 + NaOH --> ?

Xque - 8-11-2005 at 10:18

Heya! First post, but you can surely expect more to come :D

Anyway. What's the outcome of this reaction? I can't find it anywhere :(

chemoleo - 8-11-2005 at 13:24

Well think about it. You got the acid anion PO3- and two cations NH4+ and Mg2+. You add more Na+, thus this being a stronger base you will get Na3PO4, Mg(OH)2 and ammonia gas, which you should smell.

Next time do a bit more of your own researching, how's that?

guy - 15-11-2005 at 16:50

Isn't MgNH4PO4 more insoluble than Mg(OH)2? The Ksp for the first is 2.5 x 10-12 while Mg(OH)2 is only 1.5 x 10-11. So I don't think anything would happen to a large extent

chemoleo - 15-11-2005 at 17:19

Nonetheless, I'd almost bet on it that you'd get the reaction as described above.

Why? Probably because NaOH is a stronger base than all the others. It probably wouldnt work with ammonia, or NH4OH instead of NaOH, to form triammoniumphosphate and Mg(OH)2.
It's not only a function of solubiility but also the strength of the base/acid!