Question

Write the chemical formulas for the following compounds: (a) aluminum hydroxide, (b) potassium sulfate, (c) copper(I) oxide, (d) zinc nitrate, (e) mercury(II) bromide, (f) iron(III) carbonate, (g) sodium hypobromite.

Short answer

The chemical formulas for the given compounds are: (a) Al(OH)_3, (b) K_2SO_4, (c) Cu_2O, (d) Zn(NO_3)_2, (e) HgBr_2, (f) Fe_2(CO_3)_3, and (g) NaBrO.

Step-by-step solution

(a) aluminum hydroxide

Aluminum has a charge of +3 (Al^3+) and hydroxide has a charge of -1 (OH^-). To form a neutral compound, we need three hydroxide ions (OH^-) for each aluminum ion (Al^3+). So, the formula for aluminum hydroxide is Al(OH)_3.

(b) potassium sulfate

Potassium has a charge of +1 (K^+) and sulfate has a charge of -2 (SO_4^2-). To form a neutral compound, we need two potassium ions (K^+) for each sulfate ion (SO_4^2-). Thus, the formula for potassium sulfate is K_2SO_4.

(c) copper(I) oxide

Copper(I) has a charge of +1 (Cu^+) and oxide has a charge of -2 (O^2-). To balance the charges, we need two copper(I) ions (Cu^+) for each oxide ion (O^2-). The formula for copper(I) oxide is Cu_2O.

(d) zinc nitrate

Zinc has a charge of +2 (Zn^2+) and nitrate has a charge of -1 (NO_3^-). To form a neutral compound, we need two nitrate ions (NO_3^-) for each zinc ion (Zn^2+). The formula for zinc nitrate is Zn(NO_3)_2.

(e) mercury(II) bromide

Mercury(II) has a charge of +2 (Hg^2+) and bromide has a charge of -1 (Br^-). To balance the charges, we need two bromide ions (Br^-) for each mercury(II) ion (Hg^2+). The formula for mercury(II) bromide is HgBr_2.

(f) iron(III) carbonate

Iron(III) has a charge of +3 (Fe^3+) and carbonate has a charge of -2 (CO_3^2-). To form a neutral compound, we need two iron(III) ions (Fe^3+) for every three carbonate ions (CO_3^2-). The formula for iron(III) carbonate is Fe_2(CO_3)_3.

(g) sodium hypobromite

Sodium has a charge of +1 (Na^+) and hypobromite has a charge of -1 (BrO^-). To balance the charges, we need one sodium ion (Na^+) for each hypobromite ion (BrO^-). The formula for sodium hypobromite is NaBrO.