Home › AP Chemistry › Chemistry › Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry › An ionic formula such as Al2O3 does not tell you:
An ionic formula such as Al2O3 does not tell you:
AThe ratio of the two ions
BThe charges that balance out
CThe elements that are present
DThe physical arrangement of ions
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The physical arrangement of ions
1. A formula is a statement about proportions.
2. The formula for aluminium oxide indicates two aluminium cations for every three oxide anions.
3. It is important to note, however, that the formula for an ionic compound does not represent the physical arrangement of its ions.
4. The real arrangement is a tightly bound three-dimensional lattice.
5. Ratio, charges and elements are all recoverable from the formula, so only the arrangement is missing.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 'Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry', sections 7.1-7.6_
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