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Multiple Choice
Which of the following formulas represents chromium(III) oxide?
A
Cr3O2
B
Cr2O3
C
CrO
D
CrO3
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Identify the oxidation state of chromium in chromium(III) oxide. The Roman numeral III indicates that chromium has a +3 charge (Cr^{3+}).
Step 2: Determine the charge on the oxide ion. Oxygen typically forms an oxide ion with a charge of -2 (O^{2-}).
Step 3: Use the crisscross method to balance the charges between chromium and oxide ions. Since chromium is +3 and oxide is -2, the formula must balance the total positive and negative charges.
Step 4: Cross the charges to become subscripts for the other ion: chromium's charge (3) becomes the subscript for oxygen, and oxygen's charge (2) becomes the subscript for chromium, giving the formula Cr_{2}O_{3}.
Step 5: Verify that the total positive charge equals the total negative charge: 2 chromium ions × +3 = +6 and 3 oxide ions × -2 = -6, so the compound is electrically neutral.