Question

In the compounds formed by li, na, k, rb, and cs with chlorine, how many atoms of cl are there per atom of the metal?

Answer 1

To determine how many chlorine atoms for the compound made from the metals given, we need to know the ionic forms of the metals above. Lithium when in ionic form would have a charge of +1. Sodium metal would have a +1 ionic charge. Potassium would have a charge of +1 as well. Rubidium would have a charge of +1. And Cesium would have +1 also. These metals are located at group 1A so they would all have a +1 charge in the ionic form. To balance this charge, -1 should be paired which would be the charge of a chloride ion. Therefore, for each metal, only 1 chlorine atom would bond.