Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct formula unit for a compound formed from Fe^{3+} ions and oxide ions (O^{2-})?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
Multiple Choice
What is the correct chemical name for the compound with the formula Ba_3N_2?
A
Barium nitrate
B
Barium nitride
C
Barium(II) nitride
D
Barium dinitride
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the elements present in the compound Ba_3N_2. Here, Ba stands for barium and N stands for nitrogen.
Determine the charges of the ions involved. Barium is an alkaline earth metal and typically forms a +2 charge ion (Ba^{2+}). Nitrogen in nitrides typically forms a -3 charge ion (N^{3-}).
Check the ratio of ions in the formula Ba_3N_2. There are 3 barium ions and 2 nitride ions. Multiply the charge of each ion by the number of ions to verify charge neutrality: (3 × +2) + (2 × -3) = 0.
Name the compound by combining the metal name and the nonmetal name. Since barium is a metal that forms only one common oxidation state (+2), the name is simply 'barium' followed by 'nitride' for the N^{3-} ion.
Avoid using prefixes or Roman numerals in this case because barium has a fixed charge and the compound is an ionic compound, so the correct name is 'barium nitride'.
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