Final answer:
The correct formula for barium chlorate is Ba(ClO₃)₂, which has a balance of charges between the barium cation (Ba²⁺) and two chlorate anions (ClO₃⁻).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct formula for barium chlorate is b. Ba(ClO₃)₂. To determine the correct formula for an ionic compound, it is essential to consider the charges of the ions involved. Barium is a group 2 element and hence has a +2 charge as a cation, Ba²⁺. The chlorate ion, ClO₃⁻, has a -1 charge. To achieve electrical neutrality, two chlorate ions are needed to balance the +2 charge of a single barium ion, resulting in the formula Ba(ClO₃)₂. The other formulas, Ba(ClO₂)₂ and BaCl₂, represent barium chlorite and barium chloride, respectively, while Ba(ClO)₂ is not a correct formula as it does not represent an existing compound.