Question

You are balancing an ionic compound. Let's call it: AB.
Ion A has a charge of +2 and Ion B has a charge of -3.
Therefore, you determine that the ionic compound (AB) will have a ratio of 3 As for every 2 Bs.
How would you modify AB in order to show that they have this 3-to-2 ratio? A^3B^2
3A2B
A3B2

Answer 1

Answer: A₃B₂

Explanation:

In a chemical formula the subscripts indicate the number of atoms or ions of each element, so in the formula A₃B₂, the subscript 3 indicates that the unit formula has three ions of element A, and the subscript 2 indicates 2 ions of the element B. Hence, the ratio A to B is 3 : 2.

You check the correctness of the unit formula by adding the total charges knowing that the final net charge of a neutral compound is zero. This table shows the balance of the charges for the compound A₃B₂:

Ion      Charge         Number of ions                      Total charge

          (each ion)      (subscript in the formula)      (# ions × charge per ion)

A              +2                      3                                     +2 × 3 = +6

B               -3                      2                                     -3 × 2 = - 6

                                                     Net charge:        +6 - 6 = 0

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct option is option B which is A3B2.

Explanation:

• The A3B2 shows that there is 3-to-2 ratio in the formula.
• IN given formula A3B2, subscripts show the number of ions in balanced ionic compound.
• As the charge of A is -2, there will be 3 ions making total -6  by ions A.
• While B has charge of _+3, so there will be 2 ions of B indication total charge of +6.
• Hence -6 and+6 will are equal and opposite. So the net charge of ionic compound will be zero.