Final answer:
The correct formula for a compound made of aluminum and fluorine is
, where the ratio of aluminum to fluorine is 1:3 to balance the charges and create a neutral compound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct formula compound for aluminum and fluorine is
. When combining aluminum (Al), which has a +3 charge, with fluorine (F), which has a -1 charge, we must find the lowest ratio of ions that will result in a neutral compound. This ratio will be one aluminum ion to three fluoride ions to neutralize the charges since we need three fluorine atoms, each with a -1 charge, to balance the +3 charge of the aluminum ion. Therefore, the chemical formula is
