Question

A type of Lead (Pb) ion has a + 4 oxidation number. Sulfur (S) has a — 2 oxidation number. What would be the chemical formula for the compound of these two elements?

Answer 1

Answer: The chemical formula for the compound of these two elements is $PbS_2$

Explanation:

For formation of a neutral ionic compound, the charges on cation and anion must be balanced. The cation is formed by loss of electrons by metals and anions are formed by gain of electrons by non metals.

Here metal lead is having an oxidation state of +4 called as $Pb^{4+}$ cation and sulphur non metal has oxidation state of -2 called as $S^{2-}$. Thus they combine and their oxidation states are exchanged and written in simplest whole number ratios to give neutral $PbS_2$

The chemical formula for the compound of these two elements is $PbS_2$