130k views
5 votes
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
by
8.5k points

1 Answer

4 votes

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
by
8.4k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.