Final answer:
The correct name for Ca3(PO4)2 is calcium phosphate, an ionic compound consisting of three calcium ions and two phosphate ions. Its formula mass is calculated from the atomic masses of these elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct name for Ca3(PO4)2 is calcium phosphate. This is an ionic compound where each calcium ion Ca2+ balances with the charge of the phosphate ion PO43-. To achieve electrical neutrality, three calcium ions are needed for every two phosphate ions, resulting in the empirical formula Ca3(PO4)2.
The formula mass or molar mass of calcium phosphate is calculated by adding the atomic masses of its constituent atoms. The calculation involves adding together the atomic masses of three calcium atoms (Ca), two phosphorus atoms (P), and eight oxygen atoms (O), where the atomic masses are for Ca (approx. 40 amu each), P (approx. 31 amu each), and O (approx. 16 amu each).