What is the formula of the ionic compound tin(IV) bromide?
A. $SnB _4$
B. $SnBr _4$
C. $SnBr _2$
D. $Sn _4 Br$
Answer (1)
Determine the charge of the tin ion: +4.
Determine the charge of the bromide ion: -1.
Balance the charges to form a neutral compound: S n 4 + requires 4 B r − ions.
Write the formula: S n B r 4
Explanation
Problem Analysis We are asked to determine the chemical formula for tin(IV) bromide. The Roman numeral (IV) indicates that the tin ion has a +4 charge. Bromide is the anion of bromine, which has a -1 charge.
Balancing Charges To form a neutral compound, the positive and negative charges must balance. Since tin has a +4 charge ( S n 4 + ) and bromide has a -1 charge ( B r − ), we need four bromide ions to balance the charge of one tin ion.
Determining the Formula Therefore, the formula for tin(IV) bromide is S n B r 4 .
Final Answer The formula of the ionic compound tin(IV) bromide is S n B r 4
Examples
Understanding ionic compounds is crucial in various fields, such as medicine and materials science. For example, in drug delivery, ionic compounds can be designed to release medication at a specific pH level in the body. In materials science, the properties of ionic compounds, such as their high melting points and electrical conductivity, make them useful in creating ceramics and electrolytes for batteries. Knowing how to determine the formula of an ionic compound like tin(IV) bromide ( S n B r 4 ) helps in predicting its behavior and applications in these areas.
