If I am determining the chemical formula of an ionic compound containing two moles of iron and three moles of sulfate ions per mole of the compound
I understand it would be set up as
2 moles Fe 2 Fe atoms
_______________ ___________
1 mole compound 1 formula unit
and
3 moles sulfate 3 sulfate ions
____________ ____________
1 mole compound 1 formula unit
What I don't understand is why the chemical formula is
Fe2(SO4)3 ... why isn't it Fe2S3?
Can someone please explain it to me... and why it is Fe2(SO4)3.
2007-10-11 14:13:57 · 4 answers · asked by decemberkitty02 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The word "sulfate" actually stands for SO4, not just S. An SO4 sulfate ion has a -2 charge. Since the anion part of the compound has multiple atoms in it, it has to have parentheses around it: Fe2(SO4)3
If you wrote if as Fe2SO43, it would mean you have 2 iron atoms, 1 sulfur atom, and 43 oxygen atoms.
2007-10-11 14:20:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anand S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They specifically say in the question, 3 moles of sulfate; not sulfide!
Sulfate is the group: SO4 and has a -2 charge. The formula you were writing was for iron sulfide.
2007-10-11 14:24:52 · answer #2 · answered by Flying Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
and three moles of sulfate ions per mole of the compound
Sulfate is SO3. Not just sulfur.
2007-10-11 14:20:16 · answer #3 · answered by Jon B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-17 05:21:20 · answer #4 · answered by Clarissa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋