Question

Sodium oxide is an ionic compound made up of sodium and oxygen atoms. Sodium has 1 valence electron, and oxygen has 6 valence electrons.



Which is the ratio of sodium to oxygen atoms in sodium oxide?

Answer 1

The ratio of sodium to oxygen atoms in sodium oxide is 2:1. This is because sodium typically forms ions with a +1 charge (losing 1 electron to achieve a stable octet) and oxygen typically forms ions with a -2 charge (gaining 2 electrons to achieve a stable octet). In order for the compound to be electrically neutral, there must be twice as many sodium ions (with a +1 charge) as oxygen ions (with a -2 charge), resulting in the ratio of 2:1 for sodium to oxygen atoms in sodium oxide.