Why Mg2N2 is not possible?

1 Answer
Mar 7, 2018

Because the oxidation states don't balance...


Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal in group 2A, and nitrogen is a pnictogen in group 15A. Mg has a common oxidation state of 2+ and N has a common oxidation state of 3. Therefore,

3Mg2++2N3Mg3N2