What is the formula of silver sulfate?
A. [tex]$AgSO _4$[/tex]
B. [tex]$SO _4 Ag _2$[/tex]
C. [tex]$Ag _2 SO _4$[/tex]
D. [tex]$Ag _2 SO _3$[/tex]
Answer (2)
Silver has a +1 charge ( A g + ) and sulfate has a -2 charge ( S O 4 − 2 ).
Two silver ions are needed to balance the charge of one sulfate ion.
The chemical formula is therefore A g 2 S O 4 .
The correct formula for silver sulfate is A g 2 S O 4 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We need to determine the chemical formula for silver sulfate from the given options.
Identifying the Ions and Their Charges Silver (Ag) typically has a +1 charge, written as A g + . Sulfate ( S O 4 ) is a polyatomic ion with a -2 charge, written as S O 4 − 2 .
Balancing the Charges To form a neutral compound, the positive and negative charges must balance. We need two silver ions ( A g + ) to balance the -2 charge of the sulfate ion ( S O 4 − 2 ). This gives us a formula of A g 2 S O 4 .
Determining the Formula Therefore, the correct formula for silver sulfate is A g 2 S O 4 .
Examples
In chemistry, understanding the correct chemical formulas is crucial for predicting how substances will react. For example, knowing that silver sulfate is A g 2 S O 4 allows chemists to accurately calculate the amounts of reactants needed in a chemical reaction or to understand the properties of solutions containing silver sulfate. This knowledge is also important in environmental science, where the solubility and reactivity of compounds like silver sulfate can affect water quality and ecosystem health. Furthermore, in materials science, the precise composition of compounds like silver sulfate is essential for designing and synthesizing new materials with specific properties.
The formula for silver sulfate is determined by balancing the charges of silver and sulfate ions. Silver has a +1 charge while sulfate has a -2 charge, requiring two silver ions to neutralize one sulfate ion. Therefore, the correct formula is A g 2 S O 4 .
;
