Question

Identify the components of the ionic formula based on the name strontium phosphide. What is the symbol for the element that forms the positive cation? What is the symbol for the element that forms the negative anion? What is the subscript on the cation in the neutral formula? What is the subscript on the anion in the neutral formula?

Answer 1

Answer: The components are Strontium (Sr) and Phosphorous (P). The symbol for the element that forms the positive cation is
`Sr^(2+)`. The symbol for the element that forms the negative anion is
`P^(3-)`. The subscript on the cation in the neutral formula is 3 and the subscript on the anion in the neutral formula is 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

For formation of a neutral ionic compound, the charges on cation and anion must be balanced. The cation is formed by loss of electrons by metals and anions are formed by gain of electrons by non metals.

Here in strontium phosphide , element strontium is having an oxidation state of +2 called as
`Sr^(2+)` cation and element phosphorous
`P^(3-)` is an anion with oxidation state of -3. Thus they combine and their oxidation states are exchanged and written in simplest whole number ratios to give neutral strontium phosphide
`Sr_3P_2`