Im studying chemistry right now and i am having trouble determining what the chemical formulas are to ionic and covalent compounds. Here is a sample question: Calcium (Ca) combines with chlorine (Cl) to form calcium chloride, an ionic compound. Calcium has two electrons in its outer energy level and chlorine has seven electrons in its outer energy level. Determine the formula for calcium chloride and EXPLAIN your answer.
I researched calcium chloride and found the formula is CaCl2, but on a test i wont be able to research the answer. Are there easy ways to dechemical formula ionic compoundtermining chemical formulas?
Thank you for helping,
Ryan C.
In ionic compounds, you have the metals (on the left side of the periodic table) who tend to pass off electrons, and you have the non-metals (on the right side) who have "gaps" in their electron shells and tend to accept electrons.
In the case of CaCl2:
Chlorine has 7 electrons in its outer shell. A full shell for would require 8 electrons, so it is "looking" for 1 extra electron to fill its outer shell.
Calcium has 2 electrons in its outer shell. It would like to give those extra two achemical formula ionic compoundway, so it's looking for 2 takers.
Soo... Chlorine (with the one gap) calls up another Chlorine (also with the one gap), and now you have a total of two gaps. Two extra electrons from Calcium and two gaps from the two Chlorine make a good fit, and everyone is happy.
I can give more examples if you wish...
Li has 1 electron in its outer shell, O has 6 electrons in its outer shell (looking for 2 to fill up)
2 Li together can offer the two electrons O is looking for. this makes Li2O.
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