Naming & Writing Ionic Formulas

Question

Directions:

1. Click the link for digital dice.
2. In the menu at the top of the website choose to use the pink and blue dice so they match the dice key below..
3. Roll the dice and using the key below record the cation (+ ion) and the anion (- ion) in the data table. 
4. Write the correct chemical formula for the ionic compound. 
5. Name the chemical compound. 
6. Repeat as many times as you can!
7. An example has been completed for you.  

	Cation	Anion	Chemical Formula	Name
Example	Mg⁺2	Cl-	MgCl2	Magnesium Chloride
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Answer 1

Hello, Skjdb,

As the example demonstrates, a cation (with a positive charge, +) is associated with an anion (negative charge, -) in proportions that result in a neutral molecule. Nickel's +3 charge must be offset by three fluorine atoms that have a -1 electrical charge on each. It takes three of them to match Nickel's +3 charge, so we get NiCl₃.

If you won an ammonium molecule (NH₄ with +1 charge), congratulations and hold your nose. If it's partner were to be a chlorine atom, with a negative charge of -1, they would be happy with one of each: NH₄Cl.

For aluminum (Al) and oxygen (O), it is slightly harder. Al has a +3 and O has -2. To get this to be a neutral molecule, we'd need two Al atoms (for a total charge of +6) to mate with 3 O atoms (at -2 each) to reach neutrality. That means Al₂O₃ would work.

Bob