Nitride, Nitrite, and Nitrate Ions (Difference and Formulas)

In chemistry it is important to be able to tell the difference between the Nitride, Nitrite, and Nitrate ion. While the names are similar, they are very different substances.

Nitride is the ion of Nitrogen. It's formula is N 3- .
Nitrite is a polyatomic ion with a 1- ionic charge. It's formula is NO2 - .
Nitrate is a polyatomic ion with a 1- ionic charge. It's formula is NO3 - .

It is probably a good idea to memorize the Nitrate ion (NO3 -) since it comes up frequently in chemistry. You can then use the naming rule that an ion ending in -ite has one less Oxygen atom that the ion ending in -ate. So if Nitrate is NO3 - , then Nitrite is NO2 -. This rule can be used with other similar polyatomic ions as well.

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[siddhanthsundas]

thank you
for the explaination
































































































































































































































































thank you

[paulinebadamo]

Dr. B-- This is so clear, concise and helpful! You are awesome and I appreciate your videos so much!!

[MTRfundamentalist]

Nitride is very different from nitrite and nitrate. Nitrides are rarely encountered, and ionic nitrides are reactive with water, liberating metal hydroxide and ammonia. The ion is also highly basic, whereas nitrite and nitrate are acidic.

[AnshumanSingh-mlkn]

Oo this very helpful thank you so much dear

[lillly]

This definitely gets shown in chemistry class

[Amirmokhtarpoor]

Thnks for solving the life long headache 😂❤

[mariociencia]

Thank you very much! Finally, I understood enough to remember!

[loukatherfox]

Phosphor ide/ite/ate haben immer -3, Sulfide/ite/ate immer -2, Nitrite/ate -1, aber warum hat Nitrid -3 ?

[pedrosso]

I don't yet understand why nitrate has 3 oxygens but if -ite always has 1 less than -ate that's at least some kind of rule