Metals are indeed written as their neutral formulas in chemical equations, which is true, as seen with the representation of iron as Fe. For binary ionic compounds, the metal and nonmetal ions are written with their charges, ensuring the overall neutrality of the compound. The statement "Metals are written as their neutral formula." is true.
The statement is true; metals are typically represented in chemical formulas as their neutral entities. When composing chemical formulas for binary ionic compounds, such as salts, the metal's representation reflects its neutral state. In these compounds, the metal provides positive ions, while the nonmetal contributes negative ions. To achieve electrical neutrality in the compound, the charges of the ions must balance. For example, iron, represented as Fe, denotes its neutral form in chemical equations.
When forming binary ionic compounds, the metal's charge is matched with the nonmetal's charge in a manner that ensures a net neutral compound. Taking aluminum nitride (AlN) as an illustration, aluminum (Al3+) and nitrogen (N3-) ions combine in a one-to-one ratio, resulting in a neutral compound where the charges cancel each other out. This consistent representation of metals as neutral entities facilitates the understanding and prediction of chemical reactions and their outcomes.