Question

How do we formulate `"lithium nitride"`?

Answer 1

`"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,