Nomenclature. When do we have to put type (I) behind an element.

Question

Need help. 

Answer 1

Hi Roxana

 

Transitional Metals, i.e the mid section on the periodic table are cations and they tend to have multiple oxidation numbers. For example, Iron(Fe) can either give +2 or +3. So we name it Iron(II) or Iron (III). When making a compound out of them, we have to show which Iron we used. 

For example, Let's say we are trying to figure out what this is Fe₂O₃ ?

We know that Oxygen is O^2- so when making a compound we are giving 2. That explains why Fe has 2 as a subscript. Oxygen has 3 as a subscript that means that Fe is giving 3 so it is Fe(III) or Iron (III). 

 

I hope this helped. 

 

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