How do you name the compound #Ca_3N_2#?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 28, 2016

#"Calcium nitride"#

Explanation:

As a Group 2 metal, calcium commonly forms a #Ca^(2+)# ion.

Nitrogen, in exceptional cirecumstances, can form a #N^(3-)# ion.

When #"calcium nitride"# forms (for instance when calcium is heated under dinitrogen), the ionic solid must be electrostatically neutral, i.e. #3xxCa^(2+) + 2xxN^(3-)# combine to give a neutral salt.

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