The most common charge associated with scandium in its compounds is . Indicate the chemical formulas you would expect for compounds formed between scandium and b. sulfur

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the most common oxidation state of scandium, which is +3.

Determine the charge of sulfur in its compounds, which is typically -2.

Use the criss-cross method to balance the charges between scandium and sulfur. This involves taking the absolute value of the charge of one ion and using it as the subscript for the other ion.

Write the chemical formula by placing the subscript of scandium (from sulfur's charge) and the subscript of sulfur (from scandium's charge) next to each element. This results in Sc_2S_3.

Ensure the compound is electrically neutral by confirming that the total positive charge from scandium ions equals the total negative charge from sulfur ions.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

41s

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidation States

Oxidation states indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound. For scandium, the most common oxidation state is +3, which means it tends to lose three electrons when forming compounds. Understanding oxidation states is crucial for predicting the types of compounds that can form between elements.

Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are formed when metals react with nonmetals, resulting in the transfer of electrons. In this case, scandium (a metal) will lose electrons to form a cation, while sulfur (a nonmetal) will gain electrons to form an anion. The resulting compound is typically represented by the formula that reflects the ratio of cations to anions.

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas represent the composition of a compound, indicating the types and numbers of atoms involved. For compounds formed between scandium and sulfur, the formula can be derived from the charges of the ions. Since scandium typically forms a +3 ion and sulfur forms a -2 ion, the formula for the compound would be Sc2S3, balancing the total positive and negative charges.

Recommended video:

Guided course