Question

iron(ii) carbonate is a polyatomic ionic compound. it is the primary component of the orange mineral siderite. write the chemical formula for iron(ii) carbonate. refer to a periodic table and a list of polyatomic ions.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify ion charges

Iron(II) has a charge of $Fe^{2 + }$, carbonate ion ($CO_3^{2-}$) has a charge of - 2.

Step2: Balance charges

To balance the charges in an ionic compound, the overall charge must be zero. Since the charges of $Fe^{2+}$ and $CO_3^{2 - }$ are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, we need one $Fe^{2+}$ ion and one $CO_3^{2-}$ ion.

Answer:

$FeCO_3$