Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which is the correct name for the compound Na3P?
A
sodium phosphorus
B
sodium phosphate
C
trisodium phosphate
D
sodium phosphide
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the elements in the compound Na3P: Na is sodium, and P is phosphorus.
Determine the charges of the ions: Sodium (Na) typically forms a +1 cation (Na\^+), and phosphorus in this context forms an anion with a charge of -3 (P\^{3-}).
Combine the ions in a ratio that balances the total positive and negative charges. Here, three Na\^+ ions balance one P\^{3-} ion, giving the formula Na3P.
Name the compound by naming the cation first (sodium) and then the anion. For the anion, phosphorus forms the phosphide ion when combined with metals, so the correct name is sodium phosphide.
Confirm that the other options are incorrect: 'sodium phosphorus' is not a proper ionic compound name, 'sodium phosphate' refers to a polyatomic ion (PO4\^{3-}), and 'trisodium phosphate' is Na3PO4, which is different from Na3P.