STEP 2:Convert the word equation into a chemical equation.
Note that there is a subscript written after the chemical symbol of Magnesium at the reactant side of the equation is 1 while the Nitrogen is 2. This is because of nitrogen gas is a diatomic substance. Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and other elements are diatomic substance while Mg is not. The product side, the chemical formula of Magnesium nitride is MgN2.
STEP 3:Balance the given chemical equation written inthe step 2 by adding coefficient after the chemical symbol or chemical formula.
To explain how we came up with this balanced chemical equation, let us refer the chemical equation in step 2. Let us determine the number of atoms of each element in the reactant side and in the product side. Look at the diagram below showing the subscript written after the chemical symbols and chemical formula in the chemical equation.