If calcium ions, each of which has a charge of 2+, are present in a solution, what is the chemical symbol for a calcium ion?

• A. Ca^{2-}
• B. Ca_{2}^{+}
• C. Ca^{+}
• D. Ca^{2+}

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the chemical symbol for an ion consists of the element's symbol followed by its charge as a superscript.
2. Recall that calcium (Ca) typically forms a cation with a charge of 2+, meaning it loses two electrons.
3. Write the element symbol 'Ca' followed by the charge '2+' as a superscript to indicate the ion's charge correctly.
4. Avoid using subscripts for charge notation; subscripts indicate the number of atoms, not charge.
5. Therefore, the correct notation for a calcium ion with a 2+ charge is \(Ca^{2+}\).