Multiple Choice
What is the correct chemical name for the compound K_2O?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Naming Ionic Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for barium phosphate?
A
BaPO4
B
Ba(PO4)2
C
Ba2(PO4)3
D
Ba3(PO4)2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ions involved: barium typically forms a Ba^{2+} ion, and phosphate is the polyatomic ion PO_4^{3-}.
Determine the charges of each ion: Ba^{2+} has a charge of +2, and PO_4^{3-} has a charge of -3.
Balance the total positive and negative charges to make the compound electrically neutral. Find the smallest whole number ratio of Ba^{2+} and PO_4^{3-} ions such that the total positive charge equals the total negative charge.
Use the crisscross method to write the formula: the charge magnitude of the phosphate ion becomes the subscript for barium, and the charge magnitude of barium becomes the subscript for phosphate, resulting in Ba_3(PO_4)_2.
Write the final chemical formula with the correct subscripts, ensuring the polyatomic ion phosphate is enclosed in parentheses when it has a subscript greater than one.
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