What charge does the barium ion possess in the compound BaCl2?

2 Answers
Mar 21, 2018

#+2#

Explanation:

Barium chloride is an ionic compound composed of one barium cation and two chlorine anions. In this case, chlorine will want to have a #-1# oxidation state due to its high electronegativity. There are two chlorine atoms, so the total oxidation state will be #-1*2=-2#.

Let #x# be the oxidation number of barium.

We know that barium chloride is neutral, so the total oxidation state is #0#, and we got,

#x-2=0#

#x=2#

So, barium will have an oxidation state of #+2# in this case.

Mar 21, 2018

#Ba^(2+)#

Explanation:

Barium #(Ba)# is a second group element in #s#-block of the periodic table.

All the second group elements always show #2+# charge as cations.

Thus #Ba# cation in #BaCl_2# also possesses #2+# charge.