Question

Please help!!! If the formula for a compound is represented by XY2 and the charge on the Y ion is -2, what is the charge in the X ion?

Answer 1

okk

Answer 2

if charge on X is a and on Y is b, then formula is XbYa. can u do it now?

Answer 3

the charge of X must add to the charge of Y2 to make zero. Y2 has a total charge of -4 (2 x -2), so X must be +4 in order to make the compound neutral.
XY2 could be something like CO2

Answer 4

dont get :(

Answer 5

okk...lets take an example

Answer 6

ok

Answer 7

if charge on X is +6 and on Y is -2, then formula is X2Y6 which can be simplified to XY3.

So, assume charge on X is a in this case and solve

Answer 8

if XY2 and the charge on the Y ion is -2 the what represents Y 2 or -2?

Answer 9

if charge on X is +a and on Y is -2, then formula is X2Ya which can be simplified to X1Ya/2.

Answer 10

no no noo...XY2 means charge on X might be +2

Answer 11

!!!!!!! me no get it! :(

Answer 12

its oki. lets start again.

Answer 13

:)

Answer 14

if charge on X is a and on Y is b, then formula is XbYa. Notice, that a and b are interchanged.

Answer 15

clear?

Answer 16

you mean when they cross right?

Answer 17

yepp, and the sign doesnt matter, altho it ll be +a and -b

Answer 18

so is X2Yb ?

Answer 19

X2Ya , we assumed a on X

Answer 20

right they cross so a goes to the Y :) my mistake

Answer 21

yepp, but we are given XY2

Answer 22

ok

Answer 23

thats is X1Y2, and we got to change X2Ya into X1Ya/2 ; as the ratio remains the same, we can do that

Answer 24

clear?

Answer 25

so the charge of x is 2?

Answer 26

nah. a/2 = 2, so a = 4

Answer 27

oh so the charge of x is four?

Answer 28

got it?

Answer 29

Yepp

Answer 30

nope ?? I dont get the radio part :?

Answer 31

radio??

Answer 32

ratio :)

Answer 33

X2Y4 can be written as XY2, do u get that?

Answer 34

waaa!;( no how do you get for by multiplication right?

Answer 35

Nah

The ratio of X and Y is 2/4 which can also be written as 1/2. SImple maths! :)

Answer 36

why 4? :/ O.o?

Answer 37

Just randomly chose it. Lets take another example.

X3Y9 can be written as XY3.

Answer 38

ramdomly? you can do that??

ok XY3

Answer 39

lol that was just to explain to you the concept...

Clear now?

Answer 40

oh!!! but XY3 if u simplify is going t be 1. And if its XY4 IS XY2 ?

Answer 41

Sorry, you lost me

Answer 42

what am saying is that I you choose a ramdom numeber the there is no a specific final answer..

Answer 43

No no noo. Use this method:

if charge on X is a and on Y is b, then formula is XbYa. Notice, that a and b are interchanged.

X2Ya in this case , as we assumed a on X

as the ratio remains the same, we can write X2Ya as X1Ya/2

X1Ya/2 is equivalent to X1Y2,

implies a/2 = 2

or, a = 4

charge on X is 4

Answer 44

oh ok I get it..Thank you so much!

Answer 45

Welcome again! :)

Answer 46

haha :)