Question

write the charge of each ion in the compound below. barium hydroxide barium = hydroxide = write the formula for the compound below. be sure to include the subscripts, for example: if your answer was cucl₂, you would select: cucl2

Explanation:

Step1: Determine the charge of barium ion

Barium is in group 2 of the periodic table. Elements in group 2 tend to lose 2 electrons to form ions. So, the barium ion (\(Ba\)) has a charge of \(+ 2\), written as \(Ba^{2+}\).

Step2: Determine the charge of hydroxide ion

The hydroxide ion (\(OH\)) is a poly - atomic ion. The formula for the hydroxide ion is \(OH^{-}\), so its charge is \(-1\).

Step3: Write the formula of barium hydroxide

To form a neutral compound, the charges must balance. Let \(x\) be the number of \(Ba^{2+}\) ions and \(y\) be the number of \(OH^{-}\) ions. Using the charge balance formula \(2x+( - 1)y = 0\). If \(x = 1\), then \(y = 2\). So the formula of barium hydroxide is \(Ba(OH)_2\).

Answer:

Barium \(=+2\), hydroxide \(=-1\), formula \(=Ba(OH)_2\)