Question

What is the formula of Barium chloride?

Answer 1

`BaCl_2`

Explanation:

Barium is a Group 2 element, hence in its ionic form, it donates one valence electron to each chloride ion (of Group 17), creating an ionic compound.

Answer 2

`BaCl_2`

Explanation:

Barium chloride is composed of a metal, barium, and a non-metal, chlorine, and will therefore most likely bond by ionic bonding.

In this case, barium is located in group `2` of the periodic table, and will contain an oxidation number of `+2`, while chlorine, located in group `7`, will contain an oxidation number of `-1`.

This means that it takes two chlorine atoms to balance one barium atom, and so its formula is `BaCl_2`.