What is the formula for silver fluoride ?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: The formula for silver fluoride is AgF.
Explanation:
Silver fluoride is a chemical compound formed from the elements silver and fluorine. To write its formula correctly, we must understand the charges of the ions involved and how they combine to form a neutral compound.
Silver is a metal and typically forms a +1 ion, written as Ag⁺. Fluorine is a non-metal from Group 17 (the halogens) on the periodic table. It commonly forms a –1 ion, written as F⁻, because it needs one electron to complete its outer shell.
When these two ions combine, the positive charge of silver balances the negative charge of fluorine. Since both ions have equal but opposite charges, only one of each ion is needed to make a neutral compound. Therefore, the correct formula is AgF.
Silver fluoride is an ionic compound because it is formed from a metal and a non-metal. In solid form, it exists as a lattice of positive silver ions and negative fluoride ions held together by strong electrostatic forces. When dissolved in water, silver fluoride dissociates into Ag⁺ and F⁻ ions, which makes it a good conductor of electricity in solution.
There are other forms of silver fluoride, such as silver(I) fluoride (AgF), silver(II) fluoride (AgF₂), and silver(III) fluoride (AgF₃). However, the most common and stable one is silver(I) fluoride (AgF), where silver has a +1 oxidation state.
AgF is often used in fluorination reactions in organic chemistry and can act as a source of fluoride ions. It is soluble in water and appears as a white crystalline solid. Unlike some silver compounds, AgF is not sensitive to light and does not darken when exposed to it.
