Question

What is the formula of ammonium chloride.

Answer 1

To find the formula of a compound, firstly we have to identify the cation, and then we have to identify the anion. After that, we have to write the symbol and charge of cation and anion.

Complete step by step answer:
Definition: Ammonium chloride is an inorganic chemical compound that is highly soluble in water. It is a colorless compound and the solution of ammonium chloride is mildly acidic.

Rules to write a formula of the compound.
1.Write down the symbols of the elements/ions, of the given compound
2.Find the charge of element/ion from the common ion table and below the symbol of each element write down its valency
3.Interchange the valency of the elements/ions. That is, with the first atom we write the valency of the second atom (as a subscript) and with the second atom, we write the valency of the first atom (as a subscript).
4.The radical/polyatomic ion must be written in a bracket before the subscript is written.

The formula of ammonium chloride:
At the beginning of a compound, we have a polyatomic ion in ammonium chloride. From the common ion table, the formula of ammonium chloride is $\mathop {NH}\nolimits_4$ and the charge is $+ 1$ and the charge on chloride ion is $- 1$ . Now we will exchange the valency of ammonium and chloride ions as mentioned in the above rules and we found the formula of ammonium chloride is $\mathop {NH}\nolimits_4 Cl$.

Note:
he overall ionic formula of the compound must be electrically neutral that is it should have zero charges and while writing the formula of the compound we assure that the cation part should come first followed by anion