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Write the formula for the polyatomic ion of ba3(po4)2: express your answer as an ion. express single charges as [+], not [1+]

User Amir Raza
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Final answer:

The polyatomic ion in Ba3(PO4)2 is PO4^3-. To construct the formula for an ionic compound with polyatomic ions, the formula for the polyatomic ion is enclosed in parentheses if it is needed in more than one quantity, and the subscript representing the quantity is placed outside the parentheses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The formula for the polyatomic ion in Ba3(PO4)2 is PO43-.

The whole compound Ba3(PO4)2 is composed of barium ions (Ba2+) and phosphate ions (PO43-).

Since barium has a charge of 2+ and phosphate has a charge of 3-, for the charges to balance in Ba3(PO4)2, we need three barium ions to balance the charge of two phosphate ions.

Each phosphate ion is a group of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms carrying a net charge of 3-.

When writing the formula for a compound with more than one polyatomic ion, the formula of the polyatomic ion must be enclosed in parentheses with the appropriate numerical subscript outside the parentheses.

This subscript indicates the number of polyatomic ions in the compound.

Hence, the compound name calcium phosphate is represented by the formula Ca3(PO4)2, where three calcium ions balance the charge of two phosphate ions.

User Alex Zhang
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Ba₃(PO₄)₂ is a compound made of a metal cation and polyatomic ion.
polyatomic ion is when 2 or more atoms are covalently bonded together and together have a charge and can act as one compound that can bond with another atom.
In this case Ba²⁺ is the metal cation and PO₄³⁻ is the polyatomic ion. this is called the phosphate ion. one phosphate atom is bonded to 4 O atoms with an net charge of -3 and acts as a single unit.
User Paxos
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