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Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Chapter 2, Problem 73g

Write the chemical formulas for the following compounds: (g) sodium hypobromite.

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Identify the cation and anion in the compound. Sodium hypobromite consists of sodium (Na) as the cation and hypobromite (BrO^-) as the anion.
Write the chemical symbol for the sodium cation. Sodium is represented by Na.
Write the chemical formula for the hypobromite anion. Hypobromite is represented by BrO^-.
Combine the cation and anion to form the neutral compound. Since sodium has a +1 charge and hypobromite has a -1 charge, they combine in a 1:1 ratio.
The chemical formula for sodium hypobromite is NaBrO.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Chemical Formulas

A chemical formula represents the composition of a compound, indicating the types and numbers of atoms present. It is essential for understanding the molecular structure and properties of the substance. For example, in sodium hypobromite, the formula reveals the presence of sodium (Na), bromine (Br), and oxygen (O) in specific ratios.
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Ionic Compounds

Sodium hypobromite is an ionic compound formed from the reaction of sodium ions and hypobromite ions. Ionic compounds consist of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, which are held together by electrostatic forces. Understanding the nature of ionic bonding helps in predicting the behavior and properties of such compounds.
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Naming Conventions in Chemistry

The naming of chemical compounds follows specific conventions established by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry). For sodium hypobromite, the name indicates the presence of sodium and the hypobromite ion, which is derived from hypobromous acid. Familiarity with these conventions is crucial for accurately writing and interpreting chemical formulas.
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