Multiple Choice
Which of the following symbols indicates that a substance is in aqueous (water) solution?
2
views
3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
Struggling with General Chemistry?
Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for magnesium nitrate?
A
Mg(NO3)2
B
MgNO3
C
Mg2N3O6
D
Mg2(NO3)3
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ions involved: magnesium typically forms a Mg^{2+} ion, and the nitrate ion is NO_{3}^{-}.
Determine the charges of the ions: Mg^{2+} has a charge of +2, and NO_{3}^{-} has a charge of -1.
Balance the total positive and negative charges to make the compound electrically neutral. Since Mg^{2+} has a +2 charge, you need two nitrate ions (each with a -1 charge) to balance it.
Write the formula by placing the magnesium ion first, followed by the nitrate ion in parentheses with a subscript indicating the number of nitrate ions needed: Mg(NO_{3})_{2}.
Verify that the formula is correct by checking that the total positive charge (+2 from Mg) equals the total negative charge (2 × -1 from two nitrate ions), resulting in a neutral compound.
2:11mWatch next
Master Ionic Compounds Naming with a bite sized video explanation from Jules
Start learningRelated Videos
Related Practice
Naming Ionic Compounds practice set
Problem sets built by lead tutorsExpert video explanations