3.25 c)

[Mario Reyes 1C]

On the basis of the expected charges on the monatomic ions, give the chemical formula of each of the following compounds: (c) aluminum hydride.

Al has a 3+ charge, and I think Hydride is referring to Hydrogen. I am confused on what charge Hydrogen would have.

[Jazmin 1H]

Hydrogen has a charge of +1, as it says on the periodic table.

[nelquosey]

Hydrogen can either have a charge of positive or negative 1 but since Aluminum already assumes the positive charge, you use the Hydrogen charge of 1- to construct your formula :)

[Mario Reyes 1C]

Hydrogen can either have a charge of positive or negative 1 but since Aluminum already assumes the positive charge, you use the Hydrogen charge of 1- to construct your formula :)

Thank you! Do you know why it can be +1 or -1? I feel it is because it can add 1 electron to fill its outermost shell, but wouldn't losing an electron mean it would lose all its shells since it is in the 1s orbital?

[Tarek Abushamma]

The cation of Hydrogen is just a proton, so there probably are not any electron shells associated with it.