Question

Which portion of the compound lithium nitrate, `LiNO_3`, is a covalently bonded polyatomic ion?

Answer 1

`"Lithium nitrate"` features the `Li^+` ion..........

Explanation:

with a `"nitrate counterion"`, `NO_3^-`.

The Lewis structure of nitrate features THREE formally charged atoms......i.e. a quaternized nitrogen `stackrel(+)N`, and two oxygen anions..............of course the formal charge is still `-1`.

`""^(-)O-stackrel(+)N(=O)-O^-`, and of course the negative charges are distributed all over the molecule. VESPER predicts a trigonal planar geometry for the 12 electron pairs......Clearly the nitrate ion is covalently bound, and its Lewis structure reflects this.