What is the charge of the cyanide ion, CN(-)?

The cyanide ion, represented as CN⁻, carries a charge of -1. To understand the reasoning behind this, we can consider the composition of the cyanide ion. The ion is made up of one carbon atom and one nitrogen atom. In its stable form, the carbon atom typically has four valence electrons, and nitrogen has five valence electrons. When these atoms bond to form the cyanide ion, they share electrons, but in doing so, the resulting structure gives the overall ion a negative charge.

The presence of the single negative charge indicates that the cyanide ion has gained one extra electron beyond what would be found in a neutral molecule (where the total number of protons equals the total number of electrons). This additional electron contributes to the -1 charge of the ion. As a result, the cyanide ion is classified as a monovalent anion.

This understanding clarifies why the correct answer is that the charge of the cyanide ion is 1-. Other options would not hold true under this explanation since they imply different quantities of charge that do not accurately reflect the electron configuration and bonding of the cyanide ion.