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Supply a name to match the formula for Mn₃(PO₄)₂

Spell out the full name of the compound.
a) Manganese(III) phosphate
b) Manganese(II) phosphate
c) Manganese phosphate
d) Manganous phosphate

User GregV
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Final answer:

b) Manganese(II) phosphate

The name of the compound Mn₃(PO₄)₂ is manganese(II) phosphate, which indicates the +2 oxidation state of manganese required to balance the phosphate ions in the formula.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct name for the compound Mn₃(PO₄)₂ is manganese(II) phosphate.

This compound is made up of manganese (Mn) ions with a +2 charge and phosphate (PO₄) ions with a -3 charge. In order to balance the charges, we need three manganese ions to pair with two phosphate ions, resulting in a neutral compound.

Similar to how iron(II) ion and phosphate ion combine to form iron(II) phosphate as described in the reference, here the manganese ion also has a +2 charge, thus the number in parentheses in manganese(II) indicates the oxidation state of the manganese.

User Subhash Sharma
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