Question

Nature of nitride ion is:
(A) acidic
(B) basic
(C) amphiprotic
(D) cannot predict

Answer 1

Hint: Acidic or Basic nature can be told on the basis of reaction with water. Ions which have negative charge or lone pairs can act as base, and electron deficient species may act as base and vice-versa for acid.

Complete answer:
Nitride is a compound of nitrogen where it has a formal oxidation state of −3. Nitrides are a large class of compounds with a wide range of properties and applications.
The formula of nitride ion ${{N}_{3}}^{-}$.
Bronsted lowry Acid is a substance which liberates ${{H}^{+}}$ ions while reacting with water. Bronsted Lowry Base is a substance which accepts ${{H}^{+}}$ ion while reacting with water. On reaction of Nitride ion with water it accepts protons from water molecules to form $N{{H}_{3}}$ and $O{{H}^{-}}$are released in the solution. \[{{N}_{3}}^{-}(aq)+3{{H}_{2}}O(l)\to N{{H}_{3}}(g)+3O{{H}^{-}}(aq)\]
Since nitride ion accepts protons and releases $O{{H}^{-}}$, it is a strong Bronsted Lowry Base. The nitride ion is never used in protic solution because of its basicity it will be protonated immediately. Nitrides are often used as refractory materials because of their high lattice energy which reflects the strong attraction of nitride towards the metal cation.
Hence the nature of Nitride ions is Basic.

So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: There are many other types of acid and bases. A Lewis base is any atom or ion, such as the $O{{H}^{-}}$ ion, that can release a pair of nonbonding electrons. A Lewis base is ,therefore, on this property called an electron-pair donor. A Lewis acid is therefore any atom or ion, such as the ${{H}^{+}}$ ion, that can receive a pair of nonbonding electrons. In other words, a Lewis acid is nothing but an electron-pair acceptor.