The chemical formula of manganese (II) chloride is Select one

The chemical formula of manganese (II) chloride is Select one: A. MnCl4 B. Mn2Cl C. MnCl2 D. MnCl3

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

The correct chemical formula of manganese (II) chloride is C. MnCl2.

Explanation:

Manganese can exist in different oxidation states, and the oxidation state indicates how many electrons the atom has gained or lost. In the case of manganese (II) chloride, the “(II)” indicates that the manganese ion has a +2 charge.

1. Understanding Manganese (II): The oxidation state of manganese in this compound is +2. This means that the manganese ion (Mn) has lost two electrons to form a Mn²⁺ ion.
2. Chlorine Ion: Chlorine (Cl) typically has an oxidation state of -1. Since chlorine is a halogen, it readily accepts one electron to form a Cl⁻ ion.
3. Balancing the Charges: To form a neutral compound, the total positive charge must balance the total negative charge. For manganese (II) chloride:
   • Manganese (Mn) has a +2 charge (Mn²⁺).
   • Chlorine (Cl) has a -1 charge (Cl⁻).
   To balance the charges, two chloride ions (Cl⁻) are needed for each manganese ion (Mn²⁺). Hence, the chemical formula of manganese (II) chloride is MnCl2.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• A. MnCl4: This formula suggests that manganese would be in a +4 oxidation state, which is not the case here. The correct oxidation state is +2.
• B. Mn2Cl: This would imply two manganese ions for every chloride ion, which does not balance the charges properly.
• D. MnCl3: This would suggest that manganese has a +3 oxidation state, which is incorrect for manganese (II) chloride.

Thus, the correct formula for manganese (II) chloride is MnCl2.