Question

What does the top and bottom number mean in CO3 ^ -2

Answer 1

\[CO_{3}^{2-}\]

The bottom number 3 means the number of atoms bonded to carbo. so there are three oxygen atoms bonded to carbon.

the top number tells us the charge of our ion. because it's -2 that means the overall charge is -2.

Answer 2

Omg. Thank you so much @Photon336 ;-;

Answer 3

another example what does the 2 mean here @melissa_something

\[H_{2}O\]

Answer 4

2 Hydrogens attached @Photon336 :3

Answer 5

Good. What about this one? \[NH_{4}^{+}\]

Answer 6

@melissa_something

Answer 7

@Photon336 +1 charge and 4 hydrogens :3

Answer 8

yeah a + charge is a cation, - charge is an anion FYI

Answer 9

@Photon336 I'm in Chem 2 in college, this is embarrassing.

Answer 10

well, now you know it

usually a cation +1 charge means that electrons have been lost.
anion -1 charge means electrons have been gained.

Answer 11

@Photon336 Thank you

Answer 12

Um do you know why the last part has a -2? (NH4)2CO3 ®2NH4+ + \[CO _{3}^{-2}\] @Photon336

Answer 13

do you know about valence electrons?

Answer 14

@Photon336 Yes

Answer 15

carbon has 4 valence electrons. and oxygen has 6

Answer 16

all elements form bonds to get 8 valence electrons. if they need to lose or gain electrons to do this they will

Answer 17

it's dissociation of ion compounds if it helps :/

Answer 18

do you agree that carbon needs 4 more electrons?

Answer 19

Yes

Answer 20

so

Answer 21

carbon must make 4 bonds.

how many bonds do you see here?

Answer 22

Four, okay

Answer 23

yeah

Answer 24

Its just weird, I don't know why my professor put it there

Answer 25

but if you notice, two of the oxygen atoms only have 1 bond.

Answer 26

carbon can never have more than 4 bonds

Answer 27

@Photon336 I just don't understand why I have to know this for the equations for the dissociation thing :c

Answer 28

one thing at a time

Answer 29

this figure is not complete yet

Answer 30

since there's 2 of them we get a charge of -2