Multiple Choice
In the name of an ionic compound, what does the Roman numeral represent?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
In an ionic compound formula, which element is written first?
A
The cation (metal)
B
The element with the larger atomic radius
C
The element with the higher electronegativity
D
The anion (nonmetal)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that in ionic compounds, the formula represents the combination of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions).
Recall that the convention for writing ionic compound formulas is to list the cation first, followed by the anion.
Recognize that the cation is usually a metal, which loses electrons to become positively charged, while the anion is usually a nonmetal, which gains electrons to become negatively charged.
Note that the order is not determined by atomic radius or electronegativity, but by the charge type: cations come before anions.
Therefore, the element written first in an ionic compound formula is the cation (metal).
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