Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for copper(II) oxide?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for magnesium oxide?
A
Mg_2O
B
Mg_2O_3
C
MgO
D
MgO_2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the elements involved: magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O).
Determine the charges of the ions formed by each element: magnesium typically forms a +2 charge (Mg^{2+}), and oxygen typically forms a -2 charge (O^{2-}).
Use the charges to find the simplest ratio of ions that results in a neutral compound. Since Mg^{2+} and O^{2-} have charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign, they combine in a 1:1 ratio.
Write the chemical formula by placing the symbols of the elements with their respective subscripts indicating the ratio. Since the ratio is 1:1, no subscripts are needed, so the formula is MgO.
Verify that the formula is electrically neutral by confirming that the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.
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