How do we formulate #"lithium nitride"#?

1 Answer
Feb 18, 2017

#"Nitride anion"# is #N^(3-)#............

Explanation:

And thus #"lithium nitride"# is formulated as #Li_3N#.

For nitrogen, #Z=7#, and there are clearly 7 protons, 7 massive, positively charged nuclear particles. To deliver the charge, there MUST be 10 electronic charges, i.e. 10 electrons. And the ion takes THREE lithium counterions to balance the charge,