What is the formula for copper(II) chloride?
$CuCl _2$
$ClCu _2$
$Cu _2 Cl$
$Cu _2 Cl _2$
Answer (1)
Copper(II) has a +2 charge: C u 2 + .
Chloride has a -1 charge: C l − .
To balance the charges, two chloride ions are needed for each copper(II) ion.
The chemical formula for copper(II) chloride is C u C l 2 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The problem asks us to identify the correct chemical formula for copper(II) chloride from a list of options. We need to understand the charges of the ions involved and how they combine to form a neutral compound.
Identifying the Charges Copper(II) indicates that the copper ion has a +2 charge, represented as C u 2 + . Chloride indicates the chlorine ion, which has a -1 charge, represented as C l − . To form a neutral compound, the positive and negative charges must balance.
Balancing the Charges To balance the +2 charge of the copper(II) ion, we need two chloride ions, each with a -1 charge. This gives a total negative charge of -2, which cancels out the +2 charge of the copper(II) ion. Therefore, the correct formula is C u C l 2 .
Conclusion The chemical formula for copper(II) chloride is C u C l 2 , which represents one copper(II) ion and two chloride ions.
Examples
In real life, copper(II) chloride is used in various applications such as in the production of other copper compounds, as a catalyst in organic reactions, and in the dyeing and printing of textiles. Understanding its chemical formula is crucial for accurately calculating the amounts of reactants needed in these processes. For example, if you want to react copper(II) chloride with another compound, you need to know that each molecule of C u C l 2 contains one copper atom and two chlorine atoms to ensure the reaction proceeds correctly and efficiently.
