If the formula of a oxide is X2O3, what is the formula of the chloride of X?
(A) XCl3 (B) XCl (C) X3Cl (D) XCl6
The formula is X2O3 for the oxide. Since oxygen has a valence of -2, then X must have a valence of +3. Cl has a valence of -1; therefore, the formula for the chloride will be XCl3.
To determine the formula of the chloride of X, we need to first consider the oxidation state of X in the oxide X2O3.
In X2O3, the total oxidation state of the oxygen atoms is -6 (since there are three oxygen atoms and oxygen has an oxidation state of -2).
Let's assume the oxidation state of X is y.
Since the compound is neutral overall, the sum of the oxidation states should be zero:
2x + 3(-2) = 0
Simplifying the equation,
2x - 6 = 0
Solving for x,
2x = 6
x = 3
Therefore, the oxidation state of X in X2O3 is +3.
In the formation of a chloride, the oxidation state of X generally matches the charge on the chloride ion (Cl-) since they combine to form a neutral compound.
Since X has an oxidation state of +3, the chloride ion (Cl-) has a charge of -1.
Hence, the formula for the chloride of X would be XCl3, option (A).
To find the formula of the chloride of X, we can use the rule of ionic compounds' formula. The formula of an ionic compound is determined by the charges of the ions involved.
Given that the formula of the oxide is X2O3, we can determine the charge on X by considering the charge of the oxygen ion (O2-). In X2O3, there are three oxygen ions with a total charge of 3(-2) = -6, since each oxygen ion carries a charge of -2.
To balance the charge, the X ion must have a total charge of +6. Since there are two X ions, each X ion has a charge of +3. Therefore, the formula of X's chloride should have a total charge of +3.
Now, let's consider the possible formula options for the chloride of X:
(A) XCl3: In this case, there are three chloride (Cl-) ions, each with a charge of -1. The total charge on chloride ions would be 3(-1) = -3, which is not +3. So, this option is incorrect.
(B) XCl: In this case, there is only one chloride (Cl-) ion with a charge of -1. The total charge of chloride ions would be -1, which does not match the desired +3 charge. So, this option is incorrect too.
(C) X3Cl: In this case, there are three chloride (Cl-) ions, each with a charge of -1. Since there are three chloride ions, the total charge on chloride ions will be 3(-1) = -3, which is not the desired +3. So, this option is also incorrect.
(D) XCl6: In this case, there are six chloride (Cl-) ions, each with a charge of -1. The total charge on chloride ions would be 6(-1) = -6, which is not +3. So, this option is incorrect as well.
Based on the analysis, none of the given options match the desired total charge of +3. Therefore, the correct answer is not provided in the given options.