name of ionic compounds for BaF2
The correct answer and explanation is:
The ionic compound for BaF₂ is named Barium Fluoride.
Explanation:
Ionic compounds are formed when atoms of elements with different electronegativities interact. In the case of BaF₂, the elements involved are barium (Ba) and fluorine (F). Barium is an alkaline earth metal, and fluorine is a halogen.
Barium (Ba), with an atomic number of 56, belongs to Group 2 of the periodic table. It has two valence electrons in its outer shell. When barium reacts to form an ionic compound, it loses these two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, becoming a Ba²⁺ ion. This is because the loss of two electrons gives the ion the same electron configuration as the nearest noble gas, which is xenon.
Fluorine (F), on the other hand, is a halogen in Group 17 of the periodic table. Fluorine has seven valence electrons, and it readily gains one electron to complete its outer electron shell, becoming a F⁻ ion. This gain of one electron allows fluorine to achieve the electron configuration of neon, a noble gas.
The Ba²⁺ and F⁻ ions are held together by electrostatic forces of attraction, forming an ionic bond. The Ba²⁺ ion attracts two F⁻ ions because of the charge difference, resulting in the formula BaF₂. This means that one barium ion combines with two fluoride ions to form a neutral compound, as the total positive charge of Ba²⁺ (which is +2) balances the total negative charge of the two F⁻ ions (which is -1 × 2 = -2).
The name of the compound reflects the cation barium and the anion fluoride, with the fluoride ion indicating the presence of fluorine in its negatively charged state.