Question

When dissolved in water, a neutral molecule of calcium chloride dissociates into three ions - one calcium ion and two chloride ions. Each chloride ion has one negative elementary charge unit. What is the charge on the calcium ion, in elementary units?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Calcium chloride is an ionic compound as it is formed by transfer of an electron to each chlorine atom.

So, being an ionic compound calcium chloride is able to dissociate completely into water.

Hence, the dissociation reaction will be as follows.

         $CaCl_{2}(s) \rightarrow Ca^{2+}(aq) + 2Cl^{-}(aq)$

Since, two electrons has been lost by single calcium atom. Therefore, calcium atom will have a charge of +2.

Thus, we can conclude that the charge on the calcium ion, in elementary units is +2.