Na3N
sodium nitrogen compound
Sodium ions can balance N3- in simple ionic examples.
What Is the Charge of Nitrogen?
Nitrogen commonly forms N3- N3+ N5+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Nitrogen usually has a common ionic charge of -3 or +3 or +5, written as N3- or N3+ or N5+.
| Element | Nitrogen |
|---|---|
| Symbol | N |
| Atomic number | 7 |
| Common ionic charge | -3, +3, +5 |
| Common ions | N3-, N3+, N5+ |
Why Nitrogen has this charge
Nitrogen has common reference charges of -3, +3, +5. Use the compound name and context to distinguish ionic charge from oxidation state.
Nitrogen charge examples
CaN2
calcium nitrogen compound
Calcium ions can balance common negative Nitrogen ions.
FAQ
Is Nitrogen charge the same as oxidation state?
Ionic charge is the charge on an actual ion. Oxidation state is a bookkeeping number used inside compounds. They can match, but they are not always the same thing.
How do I use this in formulas?
Combine positive and negative ions so the total charge is zero. You can also use the ionic compound calculator.
Where can I see the full chart?
Use the periodic table with charges or the ionic charges chart.