Strontium phosphate, Sr
(PO
)
, is a crystalline substance used in medicine and industry. How many phosphorus atoms are represented in the formula for Sr
(PO
)
? 2 3 8 4
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To determine how many phosphorus atoms are in the formula for strontium phosphate, which is Sr₃(PO₄)₂, we need to analyze the chemical formula carefully.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula Sr₃(PO₄)₂ tells us the following:
- There are 3 strontium (Sr) atoms.
- The (PO₄) part is a phosphate ion, and the subscript ₂ outside the parentheses means there are 2 phosphate ions.
Now, we look at the phosphate ion:
- Each PO₄ ion contains 1 phosphorus (P) atom and 4 oxygen (O) atoms.
Since the formula has 2 phosphate ions, we multiply the number of phosphorus atoms in one phosphate ion by 2:
- 1 phosphorus atom × 2 phosphate ions = 2 phosphorus atoms
Final Answer:
✅ 2
Why this matters:
Understanding how to read chemical formulas is essential in chemistry and related fields such as medicine, biology, and industry. Each subscript outside a set of parentheses multiplies everything inside. By identifying how many ions or molecules are present and breaking them down into their atomic components, you can determine the number of each type of atom in the formula.
In this case, recognizing that (PO₄)₂ means we have two phosphate groups helped us see that there are 2 phosphorus atoms in Sr₃(PO₄)₂.
This is a common type of problem that appears in basic chemistry and can help with understanding chemical composition, stoichiometry, and reactions.
Correct option:
⭕ 2
