Question

Bismuth(III) sulfate is an ionic compound formed from Bi3+ and SO42-. What is the correct way to represent the formula?

Answer 1

Answer:

Bi2(SO4)3

Explanation:

Bismuth(iii) sulfate is an ionic compound therefore, their is transfer of electron. Ionic compound has both cations and anions. The cations is positively charged ion while the anions is negatively charged ions. The cations loses electron to become positively charged while the anions gains electron to become negatively charged.

From the compound above, Bismuth(iii) sulfate the cations will be Bismuth ion which loses 3 electrons. The anions is the sulfate ion (S04)2- with a -2 charge.

The chemical formula can be computed from the charge configuration as follows

Bi3+  and (SO4)2-

cross multiply the charges living the sign behind to get the chemical formula

Bi2(SO4)3

Note the final chemical formula, the numbers are sub scripted