Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 5: Problem 6

Explain why it is appropriate to group a polyatomic ion in parentheses in a chemical formula, if more than one of that ion is present in the formula.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Polyatomic ions are grouped in parentheses in a chemical formula when more than one of the same ion is present, to indicate that the ions inside the brackets are a single unit, preventing any misinterpretation of the formula.

Step by step solution

01

Define Polyatomic Ions

Polyatomic ions are ions that are composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded that can be considered as acting as a single unit. For example, the nitrate ion \(NO_3^-\) or the sulfate ion \(SO_4^{2-}\). They have an overall charge, positive or negative, and they often respond as a single entity in many chemical reactions.
02

Explain the Purpose of Parentheses in Chemical Formulas

The parentheses in chemical formulas are used to indicate that the ions inside the brackets are a single unit or ion. If more than one of the same ion is present in the compound, the ion is written within parentheses followed by a subscript to indicate the number of ions.
03

Explain the Use of Parentheses with an Example

For example, let's consider the compound calcium nitrate, \(Ca(NO_3)_2\). Here, the \(NO_3\) is the nitrate ion and the \(2\) after the parentheses indicates that there are two nitrate ions combined with one calcium ion in the compound. Without having the parentheses, the formula could be misinterpreted to suggest a different composition of atoms.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Explain how the octet rule describes how atoms form stable ions.

Why can't sodium gain a positive charge by acquiring a proton in its nucleus?

What is the difference between the chlorite ion and the chlorate ion?

Name the following polyatomic ions. \begin{equation} \begin{array}{ll}{\text { a. } \mathrm{O}_{2}^{2-}} & {\text { c. } \mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}} \\ {\text { b. } \mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}} & {\text { d. } \mathrm{CO}_{3}^{2-}}\end{array} \end{equation}

What does a nonmetal element need to do to form an anion?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free