Question

Write the empirical formula of a list for binary ionic compounds that could be formed from the following ions

Answer 1

Answer:

CaBr₂, CaO, FeBr₂, FeO

Explanation:

Per binary compound, there must be 1 cation (Ca²⁺, Fe²⁺) and 1 anion (Br⁻, O²⁻). The compound should have a charge of 0 (neutral). For this to occur, there sometimes needs to be more than one cation/anion present in the compound. Below I have included the math that displays why there are more ions necessary in some compounds.

CaBr₂

-----> Ca = +2 and Br = -1

-----> +2 + (-1) + (-1) = 0

CaO

-----> Ca = +2 and O = -2

-----> +2 + (-2) = 0

FeBr₂

-----> Fe = +2 and Br = -1

-----> +2 + (-1) + (-1) = 0

FeO

-----> Fe = +2 and O = -2

-----> +2 + (-2) = 0