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QuestionChemistry

Does oxygen and barium form an ionic compound?
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Answer

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Step 1:
I'll solve this problem step by step, following the specified LaTeX formatting guidelines:

Step 2:
: Identify the Elements

- Oxygen (O) is a nonmetal - Barium (Ba) is a metal (specifically an alkaline earth metal)

Step 3:
: Determine Electron Configuration

- Barium: $$Ba \rightarrow Ba^{2+}$$ (loses 2 electrons)
- Oxygen: O \rightarrow O^{2 -} (gains 2 electrons)

Step 4:
: Check Ionic Bonding Criteria

- Metals typically form positive ions - Nonmetals typically form negative ions - Opposite charges attract, forming ionic compounds

Step 5:
: Write the Ionic Compound Formula

- Balanced formula: $$BaO
- Oxygen gains 2 electrons: O^{2 -}

Final Answer

Yes, oxygen and barium form an ionic compound with the chemical formula BaO (barium oxide), which is a stable ionic compound where barium transfers two electrons to oxygen, creating a neutral ionic bond.