Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for potassium oxide?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for zinc(II) phosphate?
A
Zn2(PO4)3
B
ZnPO4
C
Zn(PO4)2
D
Zn3(PO4)2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the charge of the zinc ion in zinc(II) phosphate. The (II) indicates that zinc has a charge of +2, so the ion is Zn^{2+}.
Determine the charge of the phosphate ion. The phosphate ion is PO_4^{3-}, with a charge of -3.
To write the correct formula, balance the total positive and negative charges so the compound is electrically neutral. This means the total positive charge must equal the total negative charge.
Set up the charge balance: if there are x zinc ions (each +2) and y phosphate ions (each -3), then 2x = 3y. The smallest whole numbers satisfying this are x = 3 and y = 2.
Write the formula using these subscripts: Zn_3(PO_4)_2, which shows 3 zinc ions and 2 phosphate ions combined to form a neutral compound.
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