Question

How do I know which charge of copper to use when I have CuCl? because copper has a +1 and +2 charge. and Cl a -1...Wouldn't it make sense to use Cu+1....but everyone else keeps saying use Cu+2. Basically how am I supposed to know to use Cu+2 instead of Cu +1 by just looking at CuCl

Answer 1

If the compound is...\[CuCl\]Chloride ALWAYS has a charge of -1, and since the entire molecule has a net charge of 0, the copper has to have a +1 charge so that the charges the cation and anion add up to the net overall charge of the molecule: 0.

Answer 2

you have to figure it out based on the other element in the chemical compound.

Answer 3

Xishem..yes that was my initial choice for it..but according to some places online it says to use Cu+2 ...is this just me trusting the internet too much haha? so i was right at first?

Answer 4

never mind guys i figured it out....zbay is sorta right..i just had to figure it using the other Cu in the chemical equation...Cu +2 was the right answer

Answer 5

Assuming the molecule is net neutral, yes it has to be Cu+1.

If the molecule were...\[CuCl_2\]Which does exist, the copper would have a +2 charge.

Answer 6

The answer is +1.

Answer 7

seee like i said i thought that too...but i should have given you guys the chemical equation also: it was NH4Cl + CuSO4 = ........ see Cu is a +2 charge....plus when i try to balance it out using the charge of Cu +1 in CuCl it doesn't balance it turns into an endless cycle

Answer 8

What is the equation you are trying to balance? and if you could show us how far you got into balancing it we may be able to spot where you went off track.

Answer 9

I already balanced it: I Figured i had to use Cu+2 because in CuCl because using Cu+1 wouldn't let me balance it. Thanks for the Help guys!! Here is the balanced equation


2 NH4Cl + CuSO4 = CuCl2 + SO4(NH4)2