What is the correct name for BaCl_2?

• A. Barium chloride
• B. Barium dichloride
• C. Barium(II) chloride
• D. Barium chlorate

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the elements in the compound BaCl_2: Ba is barium, a metal, and Cl is chlorine, a nonmetal.
2. Recognize that BaCl_2 is an ionic compound formed between a metal (barium) and a nonmetal (chlorine).
3. Determine the charge on the barium ion: Barium is in group 2, so it forms a Ba^{2+} ion.
4. Determine the charge on the chloride ion: Chlorine forms Cl^{-} ions, and since there are two chloride ions, the formula is BaCl_2.
5. Name the compound by stating the metal name first (barium) followed by the nonmetal with the suffix '-ide' (chloride), resulting in 'barium chloride'.