Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for mercury(II) chloride?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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What is the correct name for the ionic compound AlPO_4?
A
Aluminum polyphosphate
B
Aluminum phosphite
C
Aluminum phosphide
D
Aluminum phosphate
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ions present in the compound AlPO_4. Aluminum (Al) typically forms a +3 cation, Al^{3+}, and PO_4 is the polyatomic ion phosphate, which has a charge of -3, written as PO_4^{3-}.
Recognize that the compound is formed by the combination of Al^{3+} and PO_4^{3-} ions. Since their charges are equal and opposite, they combine in a 1:1 ratio to form a neutral ionic compound.
Recall the naming conventions for ionic compounds: the cation (metal) name is stated first, followed by the name of the anion. For polyatomic ions like PO_4^{3-}, use the standard name 'phosphate'.
Eliminate incorrect options by understanding the difference between phosphate (PO_4^{3-}), phosphite (PO_3^{3-}), phosphide (P^{3-}), and polyphosphate (which involves multiple phosphate units linked together).
Conclude that the correct name for AlPO_4 is 'Aluminum phosphate' because it consists of aluminum cations and phosphate anions in a 1:1 ratio.
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