Question

Which statement is true about the compound ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4] ?

It is a salt of two polyatomic ammonium ions and one polyatomic sulfate ion.

It is a mixture of three polyatomic ammonium ions and a polyatomic sulfate ion.

It is a mixture of two monatomic nitrogen and hydrogen ions and one polyatomic sulfate ion.

It is a salt of monatomic nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen ions.

Answer 1

A) It is a salt of two polyatomic ammonium ions and one polyatomic sulphate ion.

Explanation:

A polyatomic ion is an ion composed of two or more atoms. Polyatomic ions are covalently bonded groups of atoms with a positive or negative charge caused by the formation of an ionic bond with another ion. They behave as a single unit and are also known as molecular ion.

Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4] is an ionic compound formed by two polyatomic ions which are NH4^+ and SO4 ^2-

•In order for these two polyatomic ions to bond, the charges must be equal, opposite and give a net charge of zero.

•Since the sulfate ion has the greater charge, we will need two atoms of NH4^+ that will sum up to give a charge 2+ which will balance the 2- coming from the sulfate polyatomic ion.

We will be having something like this:

NH4^+ + NH4^+ ----> 2NH4^ +

Now we have equal number of charges, two positive and two negative charges coming from two ammonium polyatomic ions and one sulfate polyatomic ion.

NH4^+ NH4^+ SO4^2-

This will make the formula for ammonium sulfate to be (NH4)2SO4

Answer 2

It is a salt of two polyatomic ammonium ions and one polyatomic sulfate ion

Step-by-step explanation:

Ammonium Sulfate is an ionic compound formed by two polyatomic ions, Ammonium NH+4 and Sulfate SO−4 . ... Therefore, it will take two +1 ammonium ions to balance the one -2 sulfate ion. This will make the formula for Ammonium Sulfate (NH4)2SO4