Two elements combine to form a binary compound. What information about the two atoms is the most reliable predictor of the chemical formula of the compound?

Question

Two elements combine to form a binary compound. What information about the two atoms is the most reliable predictor of the chemical formula of the compound?

1. knowing if the elements are metals or non-metals
2. electronegativity of each atom
3. number of valence electrons in each atom
4. total number of electrons in each atom

Answer 1

The most reliable predictor of the chemical formula of the compound would be option 3: number of valence electrons in each atom. The chemical formula of a binary compound is determined by the combining ratios of the elements, which is influenced by the number of valence electrons each atom has. This information helps determine how the atoms will bond together to form the compound.