Final answer:
The 'S' in ClO3−, the chlorate ion, does not represent sulfur, silicon, phosphorus, or sulfate; it simply refers to the chlorate ion itself. The chlorate ion comprises chlorine and oxygen and carries a negative charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbol S for ClO3−, the chlorate ion, is often confused with sulfur or sulfate due to the similar initials, but in this context, 'S' does not stand for either of those. Sulfur is an element with the symbol 'S' and sulfate is a polyatomic ion with the formula SO4−². The correct answer to what 'S' stands for in ClO3− is none of the options given (A. Sulfur, B. Silicon, C. Phosphorus, D. Sulfate), as 'S' here is merely used to refer to the chemical species chlorate itself.
The chlorate ion (ClO3−) has chlorine bonded to three oxygen atoms and carries a negative charge. It does not contain sulfur, sulfate, silicon, or phosphorus. Remember, when discussing ions, it is important to use their correct chemical formula to avoid confusion with other similarly denoted elements or compounds.