The Correct Formula For Nickel(II) Phosphate Is
NIPO4
Ni3PO4
Ni3(PO4)2
Ni2(PO4)3
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct formula for Nickel(II) Phosphate is Ni₃(PO₄)₂.
Explanation:
Nickel(II) phosphate refers to a compound formed by Nickel in its +2 oxidation state (Ni²⁺) and the phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻). The formula can be determined by balancing the charges of the ions involved.
- Nickel(II) Ion (Ni²⁺): The “(II)” in the name indicates that Nickel has a +2 charge. This means each Ni²⁺ ion has a charge of +2.
- Phosphate Ion (PO₄³⁻): The phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻) carries a -3 charge. This is a polyatomic ion consisting of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms, with a -3 charge.
Balancing Charges:
To form a neutral compound, the total positive charge from the Nickel ions must balance the total negative charge from the phosphate ions.
- To balance the charges, we need three Ni²⁺ ions (which contribute +6 total charge).
- To balance this +6 charge, we need two PO₄³⁻ ions (which contribute -6 total charge).
Therefore, the formula for Nickel(II) phosphate is Ni₃(PO₄)₂, as it balances the +6 charge from the Nickel ions with the -6 charge from the phosphate ions.
Other Options:
- NiPO₄: This formula suggests one Ni²⁺ ion and one PO₄³⁻ ion. However, the charges don’t balance because the +2 charge from Ni²⁺ would not cancel out the -3 charge from PO₄³⁻.
- Ni₃PO₄: This would imply three Ni²⁺ ions and one PO₄³⁻ ion, which again doesn’t balance the charges correctly (it would result in a +6 charge from the nickel ions and a -3 charge from the phosphate, which is unbalanced).
- Ni₂(PO₄)₃: This formula would suggest two Ni²⁺ ions and three PO₄³⁻ ions, which also does not balance the charges. The total charge would be +4 from the nickel ions and -9 from the phosphate ions, resulting in an unbalanced formula.
Hence, Ni₃(PO₄)₂ is the correct chemical formula for Nickel(II) phosphate.