Chemistry Forum

My teacher asked to select the balanced equation describing the reaction between calcium and nitrogen.

I chose Ca(s)+N₂(g) --> CaN₂(s)

But the answer key says it should be

3Ca(s)+N₂(g) --> Ca₃N₂(s) because "Ca will form a +2ion and N will form a -3 ion. Nitrogen is diatomic." (her comment)

But...My equation is also balanced, is it not?

I checked it on an equation balancer at this site, and it comes back with my equation, so I'm not sure what the difference is.

Hoping for some clarity, thanks.

Amanda

Yours is also balanced on paper, but your compound is not existing, that is the problem. Nitrogen has -3, two of them -6 .Calcium is +2. So how many Calcium you need?