Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for the ionic compound sodium chromate?
A
Na2Cr2O7
B
NaCr2O7
C
Na2CrO4
D
NaCrO4
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the ions involved in the compound sodium chromate. Sodium forms the ion Na\textsuperscript{+}, and the chromate ion is CrO\textsubscript{4}\textsuperscript{2-}.
Determine the charges of each ion: Na\textsuperscript{+} has a +1 charge, and CrO\textsubscript{4}\textsuperscript{2-} has a -2 charge.
Balance the total positive and negative charges to make the compound electrically neutral. Since each chromate ion has a -2 charge, you need two sodium ions (each +1) to balance one chromate ion.
Write the formula by combining the ions in the ratio that balances the charges: two Na\textsuperscript{+} ions for every one CrO\textsubscript{4}\textsuperscript{2-} ion, resulting in Na\textsubscript{2}CrO\textsubscript{4}.
Verify that the formula Na\textsubscript{2}CrO\textsubscript{4} corresponds to sodium chromate, distinguishing it from other related compounds like sodium dichromate (Na\textsubscript{2}Cr\textsubscript{2}O\textsubscript{7}).