How many oxygens are there in #Mg_3(PO_4)_2#?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 27, 2016

In the one formula unit of #Mg_3(PO_4)_2# there are #8# individual oxygen atoms.

Explanation:

All I have done is simply expand the formula using the multiplier on the brackets. One formula unit of #Mg_3(PO_4)_2# contains #3# #"magnesium atoms"#, #2# #"phosphorus atoms"#, and #3# #"magnesium atoms"#.

Can you give the atom number breakdown of the salt magnesium biphosphate, #Mg(HPO_4)#? Why is this a 1:1 salt and not 3:2?

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