Predict the empirical formula of the ionic compound that forms from aluminum and oxygen. A)AlO B)Al₃O₂ C)Al₂O₃ D)AlO₂ E)Al₂O

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aluminum is a metal in group 13, which typically forms a 3+ ion. Oxygen is a non-metal in group 16, which typically forms a 2- ion. To balance the charges, we need two aluminum ions for every three oxygen ions: Al2O3. We can then simplify the subscripts by dividing by the greatest common factor, giving us the empirical formula of Al2O3. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Predict the Empirical Formula of the Ionic Compound That Forms