so we did this experiment in chem and there were two basic solutions:
-cations combined with nitrate ions
-anions combined with sodium ions
why were they combined like that? why can't the cations be combined with the sodium ions???
PLEASE HELP!!!!
thanks
2006-11-05 06:11:21 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
A cation is a positively charge ion as is the sodium. Two positively charged ions will repel each other. The anions will also repel each other because an anion is negatively charged like Cl. The negatively charged ions will repel each other.
Think of it this way, if you have 2 magnets and you put the positive ends together then they repel, same with the negative. But if you put one positive and one negative side they stick together or bond.
2006-11-05 06:25:57 · answer #1 · answered by tx_bsn_2008 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple answer: the sodium ion is a cation (positive charge) and two positive charges repel each other; same applies to nitrate ion (anion) and other anions - both negative - they repel each other.
2006-11-05 14:23:57 · answer #2 · answered by JJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its because sodium ions are postive and nitrate ions (NO3-) are negative so opposite attrations attract each other. I would guess that part of it
2006-11-05 14:22:19 · answer #3 · answered by gordon_benbow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋