Final answer:
The correct formula for barium chlorate is Ba(ClO3)2, which is composed of one barium ion and two chlorate ions to balance the compound's overall charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct formula for barium chlorate is Ba(ClO3)2. In this compound, the barium ion (Ba2+) is paired with two chlorate ions (ClO3−) to balance the overall charge of the compound. Each chlorate ion carries a -1 charge, so two are needed to balance the +2 charge of the barium ion.
The correct naming convention for barium chlorate follows the pattern of the metal cation name followed by the base name of the nonmetal anion with the appropriate suffix, resulting in ‘barium chlorate’ for Ba(ClO3)2.