Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for calcium phosphate?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for sodium hydrogen carbonate?
A
NaHCO_3
B
Na_2HCO_3
C
Na_2CO_3
D
NaCO_3
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that sodium hydrogen carbonate is a compound composed of sodium (Na), hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and oxygen (O) atoms arranged in a specific way.
Recognize that the bicarbonate ion, also called hydrogen carbonate, has the formula $\mathrm{HCO_3^-}$, which includes one hydrogen atom, one carbon atom, and three oxygen atoms, carrying a negative charge.
Since sodium (Na) forms a $\mathrm{Na^+}$ ion with a +1 charge, one sodium ion will balance the charge of one bicarbonate ion ($\mathrm{HCO_3^-}$) to form a neutral compound.
Combine one sodium ion ($\mathrm{Na^+}$) with one bicarbonate ion ($\mathrm{HCO_3^-}$) to get the formula $\mathrm{NaHCO_3}$, which is sodium hydrogen carbonate.
Verify that other options either have incorrect ratios of sodium to bicarbonate or represent different compounds, such as sodium carbonate ($\mathrm{Na_2CO_3}$) or incorrect formulas.
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