Question

What is the formula formed by a copper (II) cation and a nitride anion?

Answer 1

`3"Cu"^(color(red)(2)+)+"N"^(color(blue)(3)-)rarr"Cu"_color(blue)(3)"N"_color(red)(2)`

Explanation:

The copper(II) cation has a charge of positive 2.
The nitride anion has a charge of negative 3.

It is a synthesis reaction (`A+B=AB`).

Using the criss-cross method, determine the number of atoms in the product.

• Copper(II) has a charge of positive 2, therefore there will be 2 nitrogen atoms.
• Nitride has a charge of negative 3, therefore there will be 3 copper atoms.