Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for manganese(II) chloride?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for the ionic compound formed by calcium (Ca) and bromine (Br)?
A
Ca2Br
B
CaBr2
C
CaBr
D
Ca2Br2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the charges of the ions formed by calcium and bromine. Calcium (Ca) is an alkaline earth metal and typically forms a Ca^{2+} ion, meaning it loses two electrons.
Bromine (Br) is a halogen and typically forms a Br^{-} ion by gaining one electron.
To form a neutral ionic compound, the total positive charge must balance the total negative charge. Since calcium has a +2 charge and bromine has a -1 charge, you need two bromide ions to balance one calcium ion.
Write the chemical formula by placing the calcium ion first followed by the bromide ions, using subscripts to indicate the number of each ion needed to balance the charges. This gives the formula CaBr_{2}.
Verify that the total charge in the formula is zero: (1 imes +2) + (2 imes -1) = 0, confirming the compound is electrically neutral.
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