You are balancing an ionic compound. Let's call it: AB.

Ion A has a charge of + 2 and Ion B has a charge of - 3.

Therefore, you determine that the ionic compound (AB) will have a ratio of 3 As for every 2 Bs.

How would you modify AB in order to show that they have this 3-to-2 ratio? A^3B^2

3A2B

A3B2

Answer: A₃B₂

Explanation:

In a chemical formula the subscripts indicate the number of atoms or ions of each element, so in the formula A₃B₂, the subscript 3 indicates that the unit formula has three ions of element A, and the subscript 2 indicates 2 ions of the element B. Hence, the ratio A to B is 3 : 2.

You check the correctness of the unit formula by adding the total charges knowing that the final net charge of a neutral compound is zero. This table shows the balance of the charges for the compound A₃B₂:

Ion Charge Number of ions Total charge

(each ion) (subscript in the formula) (# ions * charge per ion)

A + 2 3 + 2 * 3 = + 6

B - 3 2 - 3 * 2 = - 6

Net charge: + 6 - 6 = 0

The correct option is option B which is A3B2.

Explanation:

The A3B2 shows that there is 3-to-2 ratio in the formula. IN given formula A3B2, subscripts show the number of ions in balanced ionic compound. As the charge of A is - 2, there will be 3 ions making total - 6 by ions A. While B has charge of _+3, so there will be 2 ions of B indication total charge of + 6. Hence - 6 and+6 will are equal and opposite. So the net charge of ionic compound will be zero.