What is the chemical formula of the compound copper(II) phosphate? Use the list of polyatomic ions and the periodic table to help you answer.
A. $Cu _3\left( PO _4\right)$
B. $Cu \left( PO _3\right)_2$
C. $Cu _2\left( PO _4\right)_2$
D. $Cu _3\left( PO _4\right)_2$
Answer (1)
Copper(II) has a charge of +2: C u 2 + .
Phosphate has a charge of -3: P O 4 3 − .
Balance the charges: 3 × ( + 2 ) + 2 × ( − 3 ) = 0 .
The chemical formula is C u 3 ( P O 4 ) 2 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We need to determine the chemical formula of copper(II) phosphate. Copper has a charge of +2 (indicated by (II)). Phosphate is a polyatomic ion with the formula P O 4 3 − .
Identifying Charges Copper(II) has a charge of +2, written as C u 2 + . Phosphate has a charge of -3, written as P O 4 3 − .
Balancing Charges To balance the charges to create a neutral compound, we need to find the least common multiple of 2 and 3, which is 6. Therefore, we need 3 copper ions ( 3 × + 2 = + 6 ) and 2 phosphate ions ( 2 × − 3 = − 6 ) to balance the charges.
Forming the Chemical Formula Combining the ions in the correct ratio to form the chemical formula, we get C u 3 ( P O 4 ) 2 .
Final Answer The chemical formula of copper(II) phosphate is C u 3 ( P O 4 ) 2 . Therefore, the correct answer is D.
Examples
Understanding chemical formulas is crucial in various fields, such as medicine and environmental science. For instance, in medicine, knowing the precise chemical formula of a drug helps determine the correct dosage and potential side effects. In environmental science, understanding the chemical composition of pollutants aids in developing effective remediation strategies. The ability to correctly deduce and interpret chemical formulas ensures accurate and safe practices in these critical areas.
