Final answer:
The dissociation reaction for solid ammonium phosphate dissolving in water is (NH4)3PO4(s) → 3 NH4+(aq) + PO43-(aq), showing the compound breaking into ammonium and phosphate ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking for the chemical equation that represents the dissociation of solid ammonium phosphate in water. The dissociation reaction is as follows:
Ammonium Phosphate Dissociation:
(NH4)3PO4(s) → 3 NH4+(aq) + PO43-(aq)
This equation represents the process by which solid ammonium phosphate dissolves in water, breaking into its constituent ions; ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO43-). As a weak acid cation, the ammonium ion may further react with water in a separate equilibrium reaction, but this is not represented in the simple dissociation equation provided. The provided equation is the conventional method to denote the initial dissociation of the ionic compound when it forms an aqueous solution.