Question

Someone please help me and explain this in detail!!!!!

Element X has three electrons in its outermost orbit.
Element Y has seven electrons in its outermost orbit.

What is the chemical formula of the ionic compound formed by these elements when they react together? (Use X and Y as the chemical symbols.)

Answer 1

Answer: The chemical formula of the ionic compound formed by these elements when they react together is
`XY_3`.

Step-by-step explanation:

For formation of a neutral ionic compound, the charges on cation and anion must be balanced. The cation is formed by loss of electrons by metals and anions are formed by gain of electrons by non metals.

Here element X is having an oxidation state of +3 as it can lose 3 electrons from its outermost orbit called as
`X^(3+)` cation and element Y is having an oxidation state of -1 as it can gain one electron in its outermost orbit called as
`Y^(-)` anion. Thus they combine and their oxidation states are exchanged and written in simplest whole number ratios to give neutral
`XY_3`.