Question

Write the correct formula for the following four compounds: sodium oxide, nitrogen trichloride, aluminum carbonate, and lead(II) hydroxide.

Answer 1

The correct formulas for sodium oxide, nitrogen trichloride, aluminum carbonate, and lead(II) hydroxide are Na2O, NCl3, Al2(CO3)3, and Pb(OH)2, respectively. Each formula is determined by balancing the charges of the ions involved.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct formulas for the four compounds mentioned are as follows:

• Sodium oxide: Na2O
• Nitrogen trichloride: NCl3
• Aluminum carbonate: Al2(CO3)3
• Lead(II) hydroxide: Pb(OH)2

Here's how the formulas are derived:

1. Sodium (Na) has a +1 charge and oxygen (O) has a -2 charge. To balance the charges, you need two sodium ions for every oxygen ion, giving Na2O.
   
2. Nitrogen (N) typically forms a -3 charge, while chlorine (Cl) forms a +1 charge. As the name indicates, trichloride includes three chlorine atoms, resulting in NCl3.
   
3. Aluminum (Al) has a +3 charge and carbonate (CO3) has a -2 charge. To balance the charges, you need two carbonate ions for every three aluminum ions, giving Al2(CO3)3.
   
4. Lead(II) indicates that lead has a +2 charge and hydroxide (OH) has a -1 charge. Two hydroxide ions are needed to balance the +2 charge of lead(II), resulting in Pb(OH)2.