Question

What is the overall charge on the compound, sodium hydroxide? explain

Answer 1

Overall, the electric charge of the compound
`{\rm NaOH}` is
`0`.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sodium hydroxide
`{\rm NaOH}` is an ionic compound. This compound is made up of a large number of sodium ions
`{\rm Na^(+)}` and hydroxide ions
`{\rm OH^(-)}`.

As the superscripts suggest, each sodium ion
`{\rm Na^(+)}` carries a charge of
`(+1)` while each hydroxide ion
`{\rm OH^(-)}` carries a charge of
`(-1)`.

The two types of ions are paired up at a one-to-one ratio within
`{\rm NaOH}`. Charges on these ions would balance one another, such that the overall electric charge on the compound
`{\rm NaOH}\!` would be
`0`.