How can I write binary ionic formulas?

1 Answer
Meave60
Jul 9, 2015

Use the criss-cross method.

Explanation:

The criss-cross method involves taking the size of the charge of the cation and making it the subscript of the anion, and taking the size of the charge of the anion and making it the subscript of the cation.
http://ths.talawanda.org/~bramblen/classroom/Chemistry/Notes/Section%201B/IonicBondsandIonicCompounds.htm

Example 1.

Sodium chloride

#"Na"^(+) + "Cl"^(1-)##rarr##"Na"_cancel1"Cl"_cancel1"##rarr##"NaCl"#

When the subscripts are the same they cancel to #1#, which is understood, but not written.

Example 2.

Barium fluoride

#"Ba"^(2+)"+ F"^(1-)"##rarr##"Ba"_1"F"_2##rarr##"BaF"_2"#

Example 3.

Aluminum oxide

#"Al"^(3+)"+ O"^(2-)##rarr##"Al"_2"O"_3"#

Example 4.

Copper (II) oxide

#"Cu"^(2+)"+ O"^(2)##rarr##"Cu"_cancel2"O"_cancel2##rarr##"CuO"#

Related questions
See all questions in Writing Ionic Formulas
Impact of this question
7483 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License