U Woi negative charge on each Cr4+ (four anions each) net charge on each Cr4+ You can see the net charge will only be zero if x = 4. That is, the cation. Here is the completed table: ANSWER Ionic compound cation: NaCl, NaNH4F, NH4NO3, Ni(NO3)2, V3+ NO3, CrCl4 More Practice Ma
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To correctly analyze and determine the net charge and balance in an ionic compound, we must understand how charges between cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) interact to produce a neutral compound. Let us focus on CrCl₄ in your example.
Correct Answer:
Compound: CrCl₄
Cation: Cr⁴⁺ (Chromium ion with +4 charge)
Anions: 4 × Cl⁻ (Chloride ions, each with a –1 charge)
Net charge on Cr⁴⁺: +4
Total charge of anions: 4 × (–1) = –4
Overall net charge of the compound: (+4) + (–4) = 0 → neutral compound
So, the net charge on each Cr⁴⁺ ion is +4, and since each Cl⁻ has a –1 charge, four chloride ions are required to balance one Cr⁴⁺ ion, resulting in a neutral ionic compound.
Explanation:
In ionic compounds, atoms gain or lose electrons to form ions that combine in ratios that result in an overall neutral charge. The total positive charge from cations must equal the total negative charge from anions. This is the key principle behind the formation of stable ionic compounds.
Take the compound CrCl₄ as an example. Chromium (Cr) is a transition metal and can form multiple oxidation states. In CrCl₄, each chlorine (Cl) atom forms a Cl⁻ ion with a –1 charge. Since there are four Cl⁻ ions, the total negative charge is –4. For the compound to be neutral, the positive charge from the chromium cation must exactly offset this –4 charge.
This means the chromium ion in CrCl₄ must have a charge of +4, making it a Cr⁴⁺ ion. The charges now balance: +4 from Cr⁴⁺ and –4 from four Cl⁻ ions result in a net charge of zero.
This balance of charges is essential in naming and understanding ionic compounds. If the charges did not balance, the compound would not be stable or correctly formed. Thus, in CrCl₄, each Cr⁴⁺ ion is balanced by four Cl⁻ ions to maintain electrical neutrality, which is the hallmark of a correctly formed ionic compound.
