What is the chemical formula for strontium nitride?

The first step in determining the chemical formula for a compound is to identify the symbols of the elements involved. In this case, the elements are strontium (Sr) and nitrogen (N).

Step 2: Determine the Valency of Each Element
The next step is to determine the valency of each element. The valency of an element is the number of electrons that it can donate or accept to achieve a stable electronic configuration. Strontium, being in the second group of the periodic table, has a valency of +2. Nitrogen, being in the fifteenth group, has a valency of -3.

Step 3: Cross Multiply the Valencies
The next step is to cross multiply the valencies of the elements. This is done to ensure that the total positive charge from the metal ions equals the total negative charge from the non-metal ions, resulting in a neutral compound. When we cross multiply the valencies of strontium and nitrogen, we get Sr3N2.

Step 4: Write Down the Chemical Formula
The final step is to write down the chemical formula. The subscript numbers in the formula represent the number of atoms of each element in one molecule of the compound. Therefore, the chemical formula for strontium nitride is Sr3N2, which means that one molecule of strontium nitride is made up of three atoms of strontium and two atoms of nitrogen.

In conclusion, the chemical formula for strontium nitride is Sr3N2. This formula indicates that in order to achieve a stable electronic configuration, three atoms of strontium combine with two atoms of nitrogen to form one molecule of strontium nitride.