what is the lewis dot structure of sodium nitride
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: The Lewis dot structure of sodium nitride (Na₃N) involves ionic bonding, not shared electrons as seen in covalent compounds. Sodium atoms each lose one valence electron to form Na⁺ ions, and nitrogen gains three electrons to form an N³⁻ ion. The Lewis structure is written by showing:
- Three Na⁺ ions (each with no dots, as they have lost their one valence electron)
- One N³⁻ ion with a complete octet (8 dots around the nitrogen symbol), and a 3⁻ charge
Explanation (300 words):
The Lewis dot structure is a way to represent the valence electrons in atoms and how these electrons participate in bonding. Sodium nitride, with the chemical formula Na₃N, is an ionic compound made from sodium (Na) and nitrogen (N) atoms.
Sodium is an alkali metal in group 1 of the periodic table. It has one electron in its outermost energy level (its valence shell). In order to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to that of a noble gas, each sodium atom loses one valence electron. When a sodium atom loses its valence electron, it becomes a positively charged ion (Na⁺) with no valence electrons to show in the Lewis structure.
Nitrogen is a non-metal in group 15, with five valence electrons. It needs three more electrons to complete its octet. In ionic bonding, nitrogen gains three electrons to achieve a full outer shell, forming the nitride ion (N³⁻). This gain of three electrons allows nitrogen to be surrounded by eight electrons in total, achieving a stable configuration.
In sodium nitride, three sodium atoms each donate one electron to a single nitrogen atom. These three electrons fill nitrogen’s outer shell, completing its octet. The resulting ions are three Na⁺ and one N³⁻. The structure shows three Na⁺ ions without dots, and the N³⁻ ion with eight dots arranged around it (two on each side), enclosed in brackets with a 3⁻ charge.
This structure represents the electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged ions, which is the key feature of ionic bonds in compounds like sodium nitride.