Question

When Lithium forms an ionic compound with carbonate, how many of each ion is needed?

Answer 1

Two Lithium ions and one carbonate ion

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Two Lithium ions and one carbonate ion

Step-by-step explanation:

Let us look at this equation;

Li2CO3(s) ------->2Li^(aq) + CO3^2-(aq)

We can see that each unit of Li2CO3 has two lithium ions and one carbonate ion.

Let us not forget that Li has a valency of 1 while carbonate ion has a valency of 2. Exchange of valencies gives the final formula of the compound.