Predict the Chemical Formula for the Ionic Compound Formed by Cu²⁺ and P³⁻
To determine the chemical formula for the ionic compound formed by these ions, we need to balance their charges. Since cu²⁺ has a higher positive charge than p³⁻ has a negative charge, we’ll need more p³⁻ ions to balance out the equation. The least common multiple of 2 and 3 is 6, so we’ll use six p³⁻ ions to cancel out the total positive charge of twelve from two cu²⁺ ions.
Taking this into account, the chemical formula for the resulting ionic compound will be Cu₂P₃. It’s important to note that when writing formulas for ionic compounds, subscripts are used to indicate how many atoms or ions are present in each element within the compound.
Chemical Properties of Cu²⁺ and P³⁻
Cu²⁺ is the cationic form of copper, which means it has a positive charge. This charge makes Cu²⁺ highly reactive and prone to participate in chemical reactions. One common reaction involving Cu²⁺ is its ability to undergo redox reactions, where it can either gain or lose electrons.
One example of a chemical reaction involving Cu²⁺ is its oxidation to form CuO. When exposed to oxygen gas, copper(II) ions react with the oxygen molecules, resulting in the formation of copper(II) oxide (CuO). This reaction can be represented by the following equation:
2Cu²⁺ + O₂ → 2CuO
Another significant chemical property of Cu²⁺ is its tendency to form complex ions with ligands. Ligands are molecules or ions that donate electron pairs to form coordinate bonds with metal ions. These ligands can be species such as ammonia (NH₃), cyanide (CN⁻), or water (H₂O).
For instance, when copper(II) sulfate (CuSO₄) dissolves in water, the copper(II) ions interact with water molecules forming a complex ion called [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺. This complex ion consists of one central copper atom surrounded by six water molecules coordinated through their lone pairs of electrons.
Chemical Reactions of P³⁻
P³⁻ refers to the trivalent anion known as phosphide. Being negatively charged, phosphide ions exhibit reactivity by participating in various chemical reactions, particularly those involving reduction processes.
One common reaction involving P³⁻ is its interaction with acids to produce phosphine gas (PH₃). When exposed to an acid such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), phosphide ions react to form phosphine gas and chloride ions. The balanced equation for this reaction is as follows:
P³⁻ + 3HCl → PH₃ + 3Cl⁻
Phosphides can also undergo oxidation reactions with oxygen in the presence of heat, resulting in the formation of various oxides. For example, when exposed to air at high temperatures, white phosphorus (P₄) reacts with oxygen to produce phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅). This reaction can be represented by the following equation:
4P₄ + 5O₂ → P₂O₅
It’s important to note that due to its highly reactive nature, phosphide ions are typically stored under inert conditions or handled with caution due to their potential toxicity.
When determining the chemical formula for an ionic compound, we need to consider the charges of the ions involved. In this case, cu²⁺ represents a copper ion with a positive charge of 2, while p³⁻ represents a phosphorus ion with a negative charge of 3.
To form an electrically neutral compound, these ions must combine in such a way that their charges balance out. To achieve this, we can use the crisscross method.
Firstly, we write down the symbols for each ion: Cu²⁺ and P³⁻. Then, we “crisscross” or swap the numerical values of their charges without including any signs. This gives us Cu₃P₂.
The resulting chemical formula is Cu₃P₂. It indicates that three copper ions (Cu²⁺) combine with two phosphorus ions (P³⁻) to form an electrically neutral compound.
It’s important to note that when writing chemical formulas, subscripts indicate how many atoms of each element are present in one molecule or unit of the compound. In this case, Cu₃P₂ suggests that there are three copper atoms and two phosphorus atoms in one unit of this ionic compound.
In summary:
- The chemical formula for the ionic compound formed by cu²⁺ and p³⁻ is Cu₃P₂.
- Three copper ions (Cu²⁺) combine with two phosphorus ions (P³⁻) to create this electrically neutral compound.
- Each unit of this compound consists of three copper atoms and two phosphorus atoms.
By understanding how to predict chemical formulas for ionic compounds, we can unravel the mysteries of their composition and gain a deeper insight into the fascinating world of chemistry.