What is the correct name for Li_3N?

2 Answers
anor277
Dec 6, 2016

Well, I'd call it "lithium nitride".....

Explanation:

And how does it react with water?

Truong-Son N.
Dec 6, 2016

Here's my thought process:

  • "Li" is lithium, and "N" is nitrogen.
  • "Li" is on the first column of the periodic table, and "N" is three columns away from the noble gases.

=> "Li" is a metal and "N" is a nonmetal.
=> "Li"_3"N" is anticipated to be an ionic compound, where "Li"^(+) is the cation and "N"^(3-) is the anion.

=> The name of the anion, "N"^(3-), will end in "-ide" and you will drop the "-ogen" to replace it with "-ide".

=> Append "lithium" at the beginning, because lithium is the cation.

=> Lithium nitride

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