College

We appreciate your visit to The compound magnesium phosphate has the chemical formula tex Mg 3 PO 4 2 tex What does the 2 mean in the formula tex 5Mg. This page offers clear insights and highlights the essential aspects of the topic. Our goal is to provide a helpful and engaging learning experience. Explore the content and find the answers you need!

The compound magnesium phosphate has the chemical formula [tex]$Mg_3(PO_4)_2$[/tex].

What does the 2 mean in the formula [tex]$5Mg_3(PO_4)_2$[/tex]?

A. There are two elements in magnesium phosphate.

B. There are two molecules of magnesium phosphate.

C. There are two magnesium ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.

D. There are two phosphate ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.

Answer :

To understand what the "2" means in the chemical formula [tex]\(5 \, Mg_3(PO_4)_2\)[/tex], let's break down the formula:

1. Chemical Formula Structure:
- [tex]\(Mg_3(PO_4)_2\)[/tex] is the formula for one unit of magnesium phosphate.
- The “3” next to Mg means there are three magnesium (Mg) atoms in one molecule of magnesium phosphate.
- The “2” outside the parentheses applies to everything inside the parentheses, which includes the phosphate group (PO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex]).

2. Understanding the Parentheses in [tex]\(Mg_3(PO_4)_2\)[/tex]:
- The "(PO[tex]\(_4\)[/tex])" is a polyatomic ion called phosphate.
- The subscript “2” outside the parentheses indicates that there are two phosphate ions in each molecule of magnesium phosphate.

3. Conclusion:
- The “2” in the formula [tex]\(Mg_3(PO_4)_2\)[/tex] signifies that there are two phosphate ions in one molecule of magnesium phosphate.

Therefore, the answer to the question is that there are two phosphate ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.

Thanks for taking the time to read The compound magnesium phosphate has the chemical formula tex Mg 3 PO 4 2 tex What does the 2 mean in the formula tex 5Mg. We hope the insights shared have been valuable and enhanced your understanding of the topic. Don�t hesitate to browse our website for more informative and engaging content!

Rewritten by : Barada