Question

What is the ratio of Al 3+ ions to S 2- ions in a neutral compound?

Answer 1

In a neutral ionic compound, you can determine its sub-scripts by simply flipping the ionic charges and dropping the signs: so AlS would be Al2S3

Answer 2

Answer:

The ratio of aluminium to sulfur is 2:3

Explanation:

The ratio of the elements of the neutral compound can be computed from the ionic charges that makes up the compound. The element that makes up the compound is aluminium and sulfur.  From the ions aluminium is the cation with a charge of 3+ . The  aluminium ion is the cations because it loses 3 electrons from the bonding between it and sulfur. The sulfur is the anion as it gains electrons from the cations.

Aluminium has a charge of 3+ and sulfur has a charge of 2- . The atom of element that makes up the neutral compound can be computed when you cross multiply the charges.

Al3+ and S2-

cross multiply the charges

Al2S3.

The ratio of aluminium to sulfur is 2:3