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How do determine the charge of a compound
Accepted Answer
The charge of a compound determines its electrical properties. Generally, compounds can be neutral, positively charged (cations), or negatively charged (anions). To find the charge of a compound, you can use the following steps:
1. Determine the oxidation states of the elements in the compound. The oxidation state of an element represents the hypothetical charge it would have if all its bonds were completely ionic.
2. Sum the oxidation states of all the elements in the compound. The resulting value will be the overall charge of the compound.
For example, in the compound NaCl, the oxidation state of sodium is +1, and the oxidation state of chlorine is -1. Therefore, the overall charge of NaCl is 0, making it a neutral compound.
Note that the charge of a compound can also be determined by considering its chemical formula. For instance, compounds with the suffix "-ide" (e.g., chloride, oxide, sulfide) typically form anions, while compounds with the suffix "-ium" (e.g., sodium, potassium, ammonium) typically form cations.
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