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Electride
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<p>An electride is an <a href="/facts/Ionic_compound/jB9nMfrE">ionic compound</a> in which an <a href="/facts/Electron/L0KBo5cW">electron</a> serves the role of the <a href="/facts/Anion/wrbwhF3z">anion</a>. Solutions of <a href="/facts/Alkali_metal/IkWbCLk2">alkali metals</a> in <a href="/facts/Ammonia/MtLtJFtz">ammonia</a> are electride salts. In the case of sodium, these blue <a href="/facts/Solution_(chemistry)/MGchhMQV">solutions</a> consist of [Na(NH3)6]+ and <a href="/facts/Solvated_electron/mLplrtI8">solvated electrons</a>: </p> Na + 6 NH3 → [Na(NH3)6]+ + e− <p>The cation [Na(NH3)6]+ is an <a href="/facts/Octahedral_molecular_geometry/bNXLVvks">octahedral</a> <a href="/facts/Coordination_complex/1tCyeQUm">coordination complex</a>. Despite the name, the electron does not leave the sodium-ammonia complex, but it is transferred from Na to the vacant orbitals of the coordinated ammonia molecules. </p>