| Barium is in Group II-A and so it will have a +2 charge when it forms an
ion. The ion is called a barium ion. Chlorine, again has a -1 charge on its chloride ion.
With a +2 charge and a -1 charge, we will need two of the chloride ions to match the
amount of charge on one barium ion. Therefore, we will need two chlorines for every
barium. The formula for this compound is BaCl2. Note that the charge ratio is
two-to-one, so the ion (or atom) ratio is one-to-two. (The name of this ionic compound is
barium chloride because it is made of barium ions and chloride ions.) |
| Ions |
Ba2+ |
Cl- |
| Charge ratio |
2 |
1 |
| Ion ratio |
1 |
2 |
| Formula |
BaCl2 |
| Name |
barium chloride |
|
