Write the formula for the ionic compound formed from cesium acetate
The correct answer and explanation is:
The ionic compound formed from cesium acetate has the formula CsC₂H₃O₂.
Explanation:
- Cesium (Cs) is an alkali metal (Group 1 of the periodic table). When cesium forms an ionic compound, it loses one electron to form a Cs⁺ ion.
- Acetate (C₂H₃O₂⁻) is a polyatomic ion derived from acetic acid (CH₃COOH). In the ionic form, acetate carries a 1- negative charge (C₂H₃O₂⁻). The acetate ion is composed of two carbon (C) atoms, three hydrogen (H) atoms, and two oxygen (O) atoms.
- Ionic Bond Formation: Cesium and acetate combine to form an ionic compound, with cesium donating an electron to form Cs⁺ and acetate accepting that electron to form the C₂H₃O₂⁻ ion. The positive and negative charges attract, forming the ionic bond.
- Empirical Formula: Since cesium carries a 1+ charge and acetate carries a 1- charge, only one cesium ion is needed to balance the charge of one acetate ion. Therefore, the formula for the ionic compound is CsC₂H₃O₂.
- Properties: This ionic compound is typically white and crystalline. It can be dissolved in water to form cesium ions (Cs⁺) and acetate ions (C₂H₃O₂⁻), which can participate in various chemical reactions.
- Naming: The compound is named cesium acetate, where the cation (Cs⁺) is named first and the anion (C₂H₃O₂⁻) is named second.
This compound illustrates the formation of ionic bonds between a metal (cesium) and a polyatomic ion (acetate). The resulting formula reflects the simplest ratio of cesium and acetate that results in a neutral compound.