Question

What is the chemical formula for the ionic compound calcium chloride?

Answer 1

Answer : The correct formula of the given compound will be, $CaCl_2$

Explanation :

Calcium chloride is an ionic compound because calcium element is a metal and chloride element is a non-metal. The bond formed between a metal and a non-metal is always ionic in nature.

The nomenclature of ionic compounds is given by:

1. Positive ion is written first.

2. The negative ion is written next and a suffix is added at the end of the negative ion. The suffix written is '-ide'.

The charge on calcium is (+2) and the the charge on chloride is (-1). The charges are not balanced.  Thus they combine and their charges are exchanged and written in simplest whole number ratios to give neutral $CaCl_2$.

Hence, the formula of the compound calcium chloride will be $CaCl_2$

Answer 2

C a C l ^2

Hope this helps