Chemistry: The Central Science (13th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0321910419
ISBN 13: 978-0-32191-041-7

Chapter 2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions - Exercises - Page 77: 2.62a

Answer

$Mg_{3}(PO_{4})_{2}$

Work Step by Step

A Magnesium (Mg) ion, as the problem states, has a charge of +2 while a Phosphate ($PO_{4})$ ion has a charge of -3. The least common factor between two and three is 6, so the overall charge of Phosphate ions must be -6 while the overall charge of Magnesium ions must be +6, for, in ionic compounds, the overall charge is always neutral. In order to get these charges, there must be three Magnesium ions and two Phosphate ions, hence making the ionic compound $Mg_{3}(PO_{4})_{2}$.
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