Tin(II) nitrite Express your answer as a chemical formula.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The chemical formula for tin(II) nitrite is Sn(NO₂)₂.
Explanation:
Tin(II) refers to the tin ion with a +2 charge, written as Sn²⁺. The Roman numeral II indicates the oxidation state of tin, which is +2 in this compound.
Nitrite is a polyatomic ion with the formula NO₂⁻. It carries a single negative charge.
To write the chemical formula for tin(II) nitrite, it is necessary to balance the total positive and negative charges so that the compound is electrically neutral.
Since tin(II) has a charge of +2 and nitrite has a charge of -1, two nitrite ions are required to balance the +2 charge of one tin ion. This results in the formula Sn(NO₂)₂, where the parentheses indicate that two nitrite ions are attached to one tin ion.
The subscript 2 applies to the entire nitrite ion, showing there are two NO₂ groups.
In summary, the formula Sn(NO₂)₂ correctly represents tin(II) nitrite with one Sn²⁺ ion and two NO₂⁻ ions, balancing the charges to form a neutral compound.
This approach follows the standard convention for writing chemical formulas for ionic compounds with polyatomic ions, ensuring charge neutrality and proper notation.