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Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBrown 14th EditionCh.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and IonsProblem 75c
Chapter 2, Problem 75c

Give the name or chemical formula, as appropriate, for each of the following acids: (c) H3PO4

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1
Identify the elements in the given chemical formula. In H3PO4, the elements are hydrogen (H), phosphorus (P), and oxygen (O).
Recognize that the formula represents an acid because it starts with hydrogen (H).
Determine the type of acid by noting the non-hydrogen elements. Since phosphorus and oxygen are present, it is an oxyacid.
Recall the naming convention for oxyacids: if the polyatomic ion ends in '-ate', the acid name will end in '-ic'. The polyatomic ion here is phosphate (PO43-).
Apply the naming convention to name the acid as phosphoric acid.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Acids and Their Formulas

Acids are substances that can donate protons (H⁺ ions) in a solution. The chemical formula of an acid typically starts with hydrogen, followed by the anion. For example, H₃PO₄ contains three hydrogen atoms and the phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻), indicating it is a triprotic acid capable of donating three protons.

Naming Acids

The naming of acids depends on the anion present. If the anion ends in '-ate,' the acid name typically ends in '-ic,' while anions ending in '-ite' lead to names ending in '-ous.' For H₃PO₄, the anion is phosphate (PO₄³⁻), so the acid is named phosphoric acid.
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Triprotic Acids

Triprotic acids are capable of donating three protons per molecule in aqueous solution. This characteristic affects their strength and behavior in chemical reactions. H₃PO₄, or phosphoric acid, is a common example, and its ability to donate multiple protons makes it important in various chemical and biological processes.
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