Question

What is the chemical formula for lead (IV) oxide?

Answer 1

`"PbO"_2`

Explanation:

This is also sometimes called lead dioxide.

The (IV) indicates that lead is in the `4+` oxidation state in this compound. Since oxygen almost always has an oxidation state of `2-`, we use simple mathematics to yield a net oxidation state of `0`:

`overbrace((4))^"Pb" + overbrace((x)(-2))^"O" = 0`

`x = color(red)(2`

There is thus one lead atom and two oxygen atoms per compound of lead(IV) oxide.

`"PbO"_(color(red)(2`