Determine the “charge” on each element in the following compounds:

Question

Answer 1

Hg is 2+ and I is -1

the charge is found by taking the subscript of the cation (Hg in this case) and making it the charge of the anion (I in this case) and the subscript of the anion and making it the charge of the cation

the cation is Hg and it's subscript is 1 (if there is no subscript written it's assumed to be 1). therefore the charge on I is -1

the anion is I and it's subscript is 2, therefore the charge on Hg is +2