What is the formula for the ionic compound formed by calcium and nitrogen?
A. CaN
B. [tex]Ca _2 N_3[/tex]
C. [tex]Ca _3 N_2[/tex]
D. CN
Answer (1)
Calcium forms a +2 ion and nitrogen forms a -3 ion.
Balance the charges to achieve a neutral compound.
Use 3 calcium ions ( 3 × + 2 = + 6 ) and 2 nitrogen ions ( 2 × − 3 = − 6 ).
The formula for the ionic compound is C a 3 N 2 .
Explanation
Identify the ions Calcium (Ca) forms a +2 ion ( C a 2 + ), and nitrogen (N) forms a -3 ion ( N 3 − ). To form a neutral compound, the total positive charge must equal the total negative charge.
Balance the charges To balance the charges, we need to find the least common multiple (LCM) of 2 and 3, which is 6. This means we need a total of +6 charge from calcium and -6 charge from nitrogen.
Determine the number of ions To get +6 charge from calcium, we need 3 calcium ions ( 3 × + 2 = + 6 ). To get -6 charge from nitrogen, we need 2 nitrogen ions ( 2 × − 3 = − 6 ).
Write the formula Therefore, the formula for the ionic compound is C a 3 N 2 .
Final Answer The correct formula for the ionic compound formed by calcium and nitrogen is C a 3 N 2 .
Examples
Ionic compounds are formed when metals react with nonmetals. In real life, calcium nitride ( C a 3 N 2 ) can be used in high-temperature ceramics, cutting tools, and high-performance alloys. Understanding how to predict the formulas of ionic compounds helps in designing new materials with specific properties. For example, knowing the correct ratio of calcium and nitrogen is crucial for synthesizing C a 3 N 2 with desired characteristics.
