Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for copper(I) hydroxide?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for aluminum(III) oxide?
A
Al2O3
B
AlO
C
AlO3
D
Al3O2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ions involved in aluminum(III) oxide. Aluminum(III) means aluminum has a charge of +3, so the ion is Al^{3+}. Oxygen typically forms an oxide ion with a charge of -2, so the ion is O^{2-}.
Determine the ratio of aluminum ions to oxide ions needed to balance the overall charge to zero. Since aluminum has a +3 charge and oxide has a -2 charge, find the smallest whole number ratio where the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.
Set up the charge balance equation: 3 \times (number of Al ions) = 2 \times (number of O ions). This means 3x = 2y, where x and y are the subscripts for Al and O respectively.
Find the smallest whole numbers x and y that satisfy 3x = 2y. The smallest solution is x = 2 and y = 3, giving the formula Al_{2}O_{3}.
Write the chemical formula using the subscripts found: Al_{2}O_{3}. This represents aluminum(III) oxide with balanced charges.
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