Question

Sodium chlorate, an ingredient in many common herbicides, has sodium, chlorine and oxygen atoms in the ratio 1:1:3, respectively. What is the formula unit for sodium chlorate?

A) NaCO₃
B) SoClO₃
C) NaClO₃
D) none of these

Answer 1

The formula unit for sodium chlorate is NaClO₃, representing a compound with a ratio of sodium to chlorine to oxygen as 1:1:3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct formula unit for sodium chlorate, which contains sodium, chlorine, and oxygen atoms in the ratio 1:1:3, is C) NaClO₃. This compound consists of one sodium ion (Na+), one chlorine atom, and three oxygen atoms. The formula NaClO₃ accurately represents the composition of sodium chlorate, where the subscript '3' after the oxygen symbol (O) indicates there are three oxygen atoms for every one sodium (Na) and one chlorine (Cl) atom.

Answer 2

The correct formula unit for sodium chlorate is NaClO₃. It corresponds to the specified ratio of sodium, chlorine, and oxygen atoms in the compound, with a 1:1:3 ratio, respectively. The answer is C) NaClO₃.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct formula unit for sodium chlorate (NaClO₃) is NaClO₃. This compound consists of one sodium atom (Na), one chlorine atom (Cl), and three oxygen atoms (O) in a 1:1:3 ratio. Each sodium chlorate molecule combines these elements in the specified proportion, forming a stable and distinct chemical compound.

The other options (A) NaCO₃ and (B) SoClO₃ do not match the specified ratio, and they represent different chemical compounds. Therefore, based on the given information about the atomic ratio in sodium chlorate, option C is the correct formula unit for sodium chlorate.