Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for magnesium sulfide?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for iron(III) sulfite?
A
Fe3(SO3)2
B
Fe2(SO3)3
C
FeSO3
D
Fe2SO3
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ions involved in the compound: iron(III) means the iron ion has a charge of +3, written as Fe^{3+}, and sulfite is the polyatomic ion SO_3^{2-}.
Determine the charges of the ions: Fe^{3+} has a +3 charge, and SO_3^{2-} has a -2 charge.
Balance the total positive and negative charges to make the compound electrically neutral. Find the smallest whole number ratio of Fe^{3+} and SO_3^{2-} ions such that the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.
Use the crisscross method to write the formula: the charge magnitude of the cation becomes the subscript of the anion, and the charge magnitude of the anion becomes the subscript of the cation, resulting in Fe_2(SO_3)_3.
Write the final chemical formula with the correct subscripts, ensuring the compound is neutral and the polyatomic ion is enclosed in parentheses with its subscript.
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