Multiple Choice
Which of the following chemical formulas represents the compound aluminum bromide?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for copper(II) phosphate?
A
Cu2PO4
B
Cu3(PO4)2
C
Cu2(PO4)3
D
CuPO4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ions involved: copper(II) ion and phosphate ion. Copper(II) ion has a charge of +2, written as Cu^{2+}, and phosphate ion has a charge of -3, written as PO_4^{3-}.
Determine the ratio of ions needed to balance the overall charge of the compound. The total positive charge must equal the total negative charge for the compound to be neutral.
Use the crisscross method to find the subscripts for each ion. Cross the magnitude of the charge of one ion to become the subscript of the other ion: Cu^{2+} and PO_4^{3-} gives Cu_3(PO_4)_2.
Write the chemical formula by placing the subscripts after each ion symbol. Since phosphate is a polyatomic ion, enclose it in parentheses when there is more than one: Cu_3(PO_4)_2.
Verify that the total positive and negative charges balance: 3 copper ions × +2 = +6 and 2 phosphate ions × -3 = -6, confirming the formula Cu_3(PO_4)_2 is correct.
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