Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

3. Chemical Reactions

Naming Ionic Compounds

General Chemistry

3. Chemical Reactions

Naming Ionic Compounds

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Multiple Choice

What is the chemical formula of the compound copper(II) phosphate?

Cu2PO4

Cu3(PO4)2

CuPO4

Cu2(PO4)3

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Verified step by step guidance

Identify the ions involved in the compound. Copper(II) indicates the copper ion has a charge of +2, so the ion is $\mathrm{Cu^{2+}}$. Phosphate is a polyatomic ion with the formula $\mathrm{PO_4^{3-}}$ and a charge of -3.

Determine the ratio of copper ions to phosphate 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.

Set up the charge balance equation: if there are $x$ copper ions and $y$ phosphate ions, then $2x = 3y$ because copper has a +2 charge and phosphate has a -3 charge.

Find the smallest whole number ratio of $x$ to $y$ that satisfies $2x = 3y$. This ratio will give the subscripts for copper and phosphate in the chemical formula.

Write the chemical formula using the ratio found, placing the phosphate ion in parentheses with its subscript if there is more than one phosphate ion, resulting in the correct formula $\mathrm{Cu_3(PO_4)_2}$.