Q
QuestionChemistry

Why is hydroxide written as OH^1 - and not OH^2?
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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
: Understanding the Chemical Structure

- Total valence electrons: $$6 + 1 = 7$$ electrons
The hydroxide ion (OH) has a specific electronic configuration that determines its charge. Let's break down the ion's composition: - Oxygen (O) has 6 valence electrons - Hydrogen (H) has 1 valence electron

Final Answer

Hydroxide is written as \mathrm{OH}^{-} because it gains 1 electron to complete its electron octet, resulting in a single negative charge.