Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct name for the compound FeCl3?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following correctly describes the composition of the compound FeCl_3?
A
Iron(III) ions and chloride ions
B
Iron(II) ions and chloride ions
C
Iron(III) ions and chlorine molecules
D
Iron(II) ions and chlorine molecules
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the chemical formula given: FeCl_3. This indicates the compound consists of iron (Fe) and chlorine (Cl).
Recognize that in ionic compounds, metals like iron form positive ions (cations) and nonmetals like chlorine form negative ions (anions).
Determine the charge on the iron ion by considering the charge on chloride ions. Chloride ions (Cl^-) each have a charge of -1.
Since there are three chloride ions, the total negative charge is 3 × (-1) = -3. To balance this, the iron ion must have a charge of +3, making it Fe^{3+}.
Conclude that FeCl_3 is composed of iron(III) ions (Fe^{3+}) and chloride ions (Cl^-), not chlorine molecules (Cl_2) or iron(II) ions (Fe^{2+}).
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