Question

What is the atomic number of phosphate?

Answer 1

None, phosphate is not an element

Explanation:

Phosphate is an anion with the chemical formula `PO_4^(3-)` and has the above configuration. Only single elements have a atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus. The atomic number of phosphorus is 15 and the atomic number of oxygen is 8.

Answer 2

Phosphate anion is a polyatomic ion with a formal charge of `-3`.

Explanation:

Phosphates are the salts of `"phosphoric acid, "H_3PO_4`, a mineral acid of moderate strength. Both biphosphates, salts of `HPO_4^(2-)`, and phosphates, `PO_4^(3-)`, tend to form insoluble salts with most metal ions save the alkali metals.

The atomic number of phosphorus is `15`.