Chapter 6, Problem 9PE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The formulas of potassium nitride and cobalt(III) oxide are to be written.

Concept introduction:

When atom accepts or loses electrons it is termed as ion. If the ion is formed from a single atom, it is referred as monatomic ion. But, in nature, many compounds are found as polyatomic ions (poly = many). Polyatomic ions are electronically neutral, for example, ammonium ion will not exist without its counter negative ion. In general, formulas of ionic compounds depict the ratio of positive and negative ions found in a substance. Moreover, the formulas of compounds are made up of lowest whole number ratio of ions i.e., formula unit. Notably, the number of positive units and the number of negative units will be equal in a chemical formula. The polyatomic ion when used in more than once, parentheses is used, and the parentheses is applied only for polyatomic ions.