Question

The formula for calcium bromide is \(\mathrm{CaBr}_{2}\). Write the names and formulas for the other alkaline earth metal bromides.

Short answer

The names and formulas are: BeBr\text{2}, MgBr\text{2}, CaBr\text{2}, SrBr\text{2}, BaBr\text{2}, and RaBr\text{2}.

Step-by-step solution

- Identify Alkaline Earth Metals

List the alkaline earth metals which include beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra).

- Write General Formula

Use the general formula for alkaline earth metal bromides. Since these metals form +2 ions, their bromides will have the form \(\text{Metal}\Br_{2}\). Replace 'Metal' with the symbol for each alkaline earth metal.

- Combine the Names and Formulas

Combine the metal names with 'bromide' and their corresponding formulas: beryllium bromide \(\text{BeBr}_{2}\), magnesium bromide \(\text{MgBr}_{2}\), calcium bromide \(\text{CaBr}_{2}\), strontium bromide \(\text{SrBr}_{2}\), barium bromide \(\text{BaBr}_{2}\), and radium bromide \(\text{RaBr}_{2}\).

Key concepts

alkaline earth metals

Alkaline earth metals are a group of elements found in the second column of the periodic table. These elements include beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). They are known for being highly reactive, especially with halogens like bromine. All alkaline earth metals have two electrons in their outermost shell, which they readily lose to form +2 ions.
This characteristic influences their chemical behavior and the types of compounds they form. Their high reactivity means they are rarely found in nature as elemental forms, but rather in compounds. For instance, calcium is commonly found in limestone, and magnesium is found in seawater. Understanding the properties and behavior of these metals is crucial in predicting how they interact with other elements, particularly in forming ionic compounds like bromides.

chemical formulas

Chemical formulas are shorthand representations of molecules and compounds. They show the types and numbers of atoms involved. For alkaline earth metal bromides, the chemical formula indicates one metal atom bonded to two bromine atoms because bromine typically forms a -1 ion, and the metal forms a +2 ion. For example, the formula for calcium bromide is \(\text{CaBr}_{2}\).
More generally, the formula can be expressed as \(\text{MetalBr}_{2}\), where 'Metal' represents the symbol of any alkaline earth metal. To write these formulas, identify the metal and use its symbol along with \(\text{Br}_{2}\). This pattern holds for all the alkaline earth metal bromides because of their consistent ion charges. Understanding chemical formulas allows us to readily identify the compound's composition and predict its reactivity and properties.

ionic compounds

Ionic compounds are formed through the electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions. In the case of alkaline earth metal bromides, the metal loses electrons to form a positive ion (cation), and bromine gains electrons to form a negative ion (anion).
The opposite charges attract, resulting in the formation of an ionic bond. For example, when calcium (Ca) reacts with bromine (Br), calcium loses two electrons to become \(\text{Ca}^{2+}\), and each bromine atom gains one electron to become \(\text{Br}^-\). This combination forms \(\text{CaBr}_{2}\), an ionic compound where the ratio of calcium to bromine is 1:2. Ionic bonds are strong and usually result in high melting and boiling points for the compounds. They also tend to dissolve well in water, releasing the ions into the solution.

naming chemical compounds

Naming chemical compounds follows specific rules to ensure clarity and consistency. For ionic compounds like alkaline earth metal bromides, the name starts with the metal, followed by the nonmetal with an 'ide' suffix.
For example, \(\text{CaBr}_{2}\) is named calcium bromide. Here, 'calcium' is the metal, and 'bromide' indicates that bromine is the nonmetal forming the compound. This naming convention holds for all bromides of the alkaline earth metals. Thus, you get names like beryllium bromide (\(\text{BeBr}_{2}\)), magnesium bromide (\(\text{MgBr}_{2}\)), and so forth. Understanding these naming rules helps in writing and interpreting chemical formulas accurately, ensuring clear communication in the study of chemistry.