Question

(2 points) Dumbledore thinks the students are now confident with significant figures; Snape is not so confident of this... Begrudgingly Snape decides to move forward in his lesson. His next lesson is in naming ionic compounds. He presents his students with sodium hydrogen sulfate and potassium permanganate. Which pair of ionic formulas is correct for these two compounds?

Answer 1

Answer: The chemical formula for hydrogen sulfate and potassium permanganate is $H_2SO_4$ and $KMnO_4$ respectively.

Explanation:

The given two compounds are ionic compounds.

An ionic compound is defined as the compound which is formed by the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another atom.

• For hydrogen sulfate:

Hydrogen is the 1st element of periodic table having electronic configuration of $1s^1$.

To form $H^{+}$ ion, this element will loose 1 electron.

Sulfate ion is a polyatomic ion having chemical formula of $SO_4^{2-}$

By criss-cross method, the oxidation state of the ions gets exchanged and they form the subscripts of the other ions. This results in the formation of a neutral compound.

So, the chemical formula for hydrogen sulfate is $H_2SO_4$

• For potassium permanganate:

Potassium is the 19th element of periodic table having electronic configuration of $[Ar]4s^1$.

To form $K^{+}$ ion, this element will loose 1 electron.

Permanganate ion is a polyatomic ion having chemical formula of $MnO_4^{-}$

By criss-cross method, the oxidation state of the ions gets exchanged and they form the subscripts of the other ions. This results in the formation of a neutral compound.

So, the chemical formula for potassium permanganate is $KMnO_4$