Question

What charge does the barium ion possess in the compound BaCl2?

Answer 1

`+2`

Explanation:

Barium chloride is an ionic compound composed of one barium cation and two chlorine anions. In this case, chlorine will want to have a `-1` oxidation state due to its high electronegativity. There are two chlorine atoms, so the total oxidation state will be `-1*2=-2`.

Let `x` be the oxidation number of barium.

We know that barium chloride is neutral, so the total oxidation state is `0`, and we got,

`x-2=0`

`x=2`

So, barium will have an oxidation state of `+2` in this case.

Answer 2

`Ba^(2+)`

Explanation:

Barium `(Ba)` is a second group element in `s`-block of the periodic table.

All the second group elements always show `2+` charge as cations.

Thus `Ba` cation in `BaCl_2` also possesses `2+` charge.