Question

A metal ion combines with a negative radical containing a chlorine atom. If the number of oxygen atoms in one molecule of the salt is 8, find the valency of the metal and identify the negative radical(s)

Answer 1

• Radicals are an atom or group of atoms with positive or negative charge.
• The ions formed by the gain of electron(s) are negatively charged and called anions .
• The ions formed by the loss of electron(s) are positively charged and are called cations.
• The negative radical with chlorine and oxygen may be hypochlorite (ClO^- ),chlorite (ClO₂^-), chlorate (ClO₃^-) and perchlorate (ClO₄^-).
• All the above radicals are monovalent.
• It is given that the total oxygen atoms in this compound is 8.
• Therefore, the negative radical could be ClO₂^- or ClO₄^-.
• Let M be the metal, then ,the formula of the salt can be M(ClO₂)₄ or M(ClO₄)₂.
• The total oxidation state of a compound is zero
• If the salt is M(ClO₂)₄, valency of M is 4 and if the salt is M(ClO₄)₂, valency of M is 2.