1. Identify the Charges:
* Barium (Ba) is an alkaline earth metal, so it forms a +2 ion (Ba²⁺).
* Nitrogen (N) is a nonmetal in group 15, so it forms a -3 ion (N³⁻).
2. Balance the Charges:
* To achieve a neutral compound, you need three barium ions (3 × +2 = +6) to balance out two nitride ions (2 × -3 = -6).
3. Write the Formula:
The chemical formula for barium nitride is Ba₃N₂.
