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A student claims that a compound with sodium and fluorine and a

compound with sodium and oxygen will have the same formula. Do you
agree? Explain why or why not?
A) Yes, because sodium forms compounds with different elements in a fixed ratio.
B) No, because the combination of sodium and fluorine results in an ionic compound, while sodium and oxygen form a covalent compound.
C) Yes, because both compounds will have the formula Na2O.
D) No, because the chemical properties of fluorine and oxygen are too similar to affect the formula of the compounds.

User Nagibaba
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Sodium forms compounds with different elements in a fixed ratio, leading to the formation of compounds like sodium oxide and sodium fluoride. The chemical properties of fluorine and oxygen affect the formula of the compounds formed with sodium.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sodium forms compounds with different elements in a fixed ratio, which makes option A correct. For example, when sodium reacts with oxygen, it forms sodium oxide (Na2O). Similarly, when sodium reacts with fluorine, it forms sodium fluoride (NaF). Both compounds have the formula Na2O, so option C is also correct.

The reason for this fixed ratio is that sodium is a metal and forms cations (positive ions), while oxygen and fluorine are nonmetals and form anions (negative ions). Ionic compounds like sodium oxide and sodium fluoride are formed by the combination of cations and anions in a way that achieves neutrality, where the positive and negative charges balance each other out.

Option D is not correct because even though the chemical properties of fluorine and oxygen are similar, their ability to form anions is different. Fluorine has a higher electron affinity than oxygen, so it is more likely to gain electrons and form fluoride ions (F-). Oxygen, on the other hand, is more likely to form oxide ions (O2-). Therefore, the chemical properties of fluorine and oxygen do affect the formula of the compounds formed with sodium.

User Jeanel
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