What is the charge on the barium ion (Ba)?

• A. 2+
• B. 2-
• C. 1-
• D. 1+

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that barium (Ba) is an alkaline earth metal located in Group 2 of the periodic table.
2. Elements in Group 2 typically lose two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming ions with a charge of 2+.
3. Since barium loses two electrons, its ion will have a charge of +2, written as Ba^{2+}.
4. The charge is positive because electrons are negatively charged, and losing electrons results in a net positive charge.
5. Therefore, the charge on the barium ion is 2+.