Activity 2.  What is the relationship between subscript and overall charge on an ion?

Step 1. Select the: cation-calcium and anion- carbonate, and observe the charges of the common ions that appear.. 

Step 2. Add one cation,  the overall charge of the one calcium ion now shown should be exactly the same charge as the common calcium ion shown above it.

Step 3. Add another cation (Ca subscript = 2), notice by what amount does the overall charge change?  Add more cations, does this change occur each time and by the same amount?  

Step 4. So, if you know the charge of the common cation and the number of cations present, how can you find the overall charge of the cation?  (Use a mathematical formula to describe this relationship).

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Step 5.  Subtract calcium cations so that there is zero.  Now add a few carbonate anions.  Does the relationship (mathematical formula) you discovered above also apply to the carbonate anion? 

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