An unknown element X forms a compound with bromine: XBr. Predict the chemical formula of the compound that element X makes with oxygen. Justify your answer.
4 answers
why wouldn't it be X2O ?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think in XBr, the charge of the bromine is -1. It makes the X have a charge of -1. This -1 charge is necessary to make the total charge of the formula be zero. Since O is a -2 and we now know X is a +2, the predicted formula between X and oxygen is X2O. I'm not 100% sure if this is correct, thanks!
Dan, just a word or two to clarify what you wrote and to point out a couple of typos. X2O is correct. My corrections and comments are in bold.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think in XBr, the charge of the bromine is -1. It makes the X have a charge of -1 (you mean +1). This -1 charge (you mean +1) is necessary to make the total charge of the formula be zero. Since O is a -2 and we now know X is a +2,(it would be better, in my opinion, to say the total charge on X is +2 so each is +1) the predicted formula between X and oxygen is X2O. I'm not 100% sure if this is correct, thanks!
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think in XBr, the charge of the bromine is -1. It makes the X have a charge of -1 (you mean +1). This -1 charge (you mean +1) is necessary to make the total charge of the formula be zero. Since O is a -2 and we now know X is a +2,(it would be better, in my opinion, to say the total charge on X is +2 so each is +1) the predicted formula between X and oxygen is X2O. I'm not 100% sure if this is correct, thanks!
Thank you!
1 answer