Question

What is the overall charge on the compound, sodium hydroxide? explain

Answer 1

Answer:

Overall, the electric charge of the compound ${\rm NaOH}$ is $0$.

Explanation:

Sodium hydroxide ${\rm NaOH}$ is an ionic compound. This compound is made up of a large number of sodium ions ${\rm Na^{+}}$ and hydroxide ions ${\rm OH^{-}}$.

As the superscripts suggest, each sodium ion ${\rm Na^{+}}$ carries a charge of $(+1)$ while each hydroxide ion ${\rm OH^{-}}$ carries a charge of $(-1)$.

The two types of ions are paired up at a one-to-one ratio within ${\rm NaOH}$. Charges on these ions would balance one another, such that the overall electric charge on the compound ${\rm NaOH}\!$ would be $0$.