Final answer:
The overall charge on all formula units constructed in homework should be electrically neutral. This neutrality is achieved by balancing the charges of various ions and atoms within compounds and during chemical reactions, according to the principle of charge conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The overall charge on all of the formula units that were constructed should be electrically neutral. This is due to the fact that compounds, including acids and complex ions, maintain electrical neutrality. For instance, a water molecule has a total charge of 0 because it consists of two H+ ions and one O2- ion, which balance each other out. Similarly, for acids, the charge of the anion is balanced by the appropriate number of H+ ions to achieve neutrality; for example, HCl (hydrochloric acid) consists of one H+ to balance the Cl- and H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) has two H+ ions to balance the 2- charge on the sulfate ion.
In another example, the structural formulas, such as [Co(H2O)6]2+, [Cr(en)3]3+, and [PtCl6]2-, also show that the individual charge on the complexes are compensated by counterions like chloride, nitrate, or potassium ions to ensure overall neutrality.
When writing chemical equations, such as in nuclear equations or reactions, the principle of conservation of charge applies, ensuring that the total charge remains constant throughout the process. For calculating formula unit weights, the weights of the individual atoms in the molecule are added together, without affecting the charge balance.