I suppose the formula of the Sulphate salt of Sodium & Potassium is $\ce{KNaSO4}$ as the Pubchem site says so.
So, is there any rule that in the formulae such mixed metal salts we need to write the metals in the order of electropositivity?
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Sign up to join this communityI suppose the formula of the Sulphate salt of Sodium & Potassium is $\ce{KNaSO4}$ as the Pubchem site says so.
So, is there any rule that in the formulae such mixed metal salts we need to write the metals in the order of electropositivity?
"$\ce{KNaSO4}$" is correct, but not because of electronegativity order, but rather the alphabetical one. From IUPAC "Red Book", section IR-2.15 ORDERING PRINCIPLES [1, p. 40]:
IR-2.15.2 Alphabetical order
Alphabetical order is used in formulae as follows.(a) Within the group of cations and within the group of anions, respectively, in formulae of salts and double salts. Deviations from this rule may be acceptable if it is desired to convey specific structural information, as in Example 5 below.
Examples:
- $\ce{BiClO}$ (anions $\ce{Cl-}$ and $\ce{O^2-})$
- $\ce{NaOCl}$ (the anion is $\ce{OCl-},$ cf. Section IR-4.4.3.1)
- $\ce{KNa4Cl(SO4)2}$
- $\ce{CaTiO3}$ (perovskite type)
- $\ce{SrFeO3}$ (perovskite type)