In an ionic compound of cobalt and fluorine, fluoride ions adopt a closest-packed structure with cobalt ions in one half of the octahedral holes.What is the empirical formula of the compound?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a closest-packed structure, there are twice as many octahedral holes as there are anions. Since cobalt ions occupy half of these octahedral holes, the ratio of cobalt to fluoride ions is 1:2, giving the empirical formula CoF₂.

In an Ionic Compound of Cobalt and Fluorine, Fluoride Ions