# What is the correct name for Sn_3(PO_4)_2?

Dec 25, 2015

Tin(II) phosphate

#### Explanation:

The important thing to realize here is that you're dealing with an ionic compound that contains tin, $\text{Sn}$, a transition metal.

As you know, transition metals can exhibit multiple oxidation states, which implies that you're going to have to use a Roman numeral to indicate the oxidation state of the transition metal in this compound.

So, ionic formulas are written based on the criss cross rule. which states that the charge on the cation becomes the subscript of the anion, and vice versa.

In this case, you have

"Sn"_color(red)(3)("PO"_4)_color(blue)(2)

Since the $\textcolor{red}{3}$ subscript of the cation will be the charge of the anion, and the $\textcolor{b l u e}{2}$ subscript of the anion will be the charge of the cation, you can say that

${\text{Sn"_color(red)(3)("PO"_4)_color(blue)(2) <=> "Sn"^color(blue)(2+)"PO}}_{4}^{\textcolor{red}{3 -}}$

Keep in mind that since the charges must be balanced, you can say that a formula unit of this compound will contain

• a total of three "Sn"^(color(blue)(2+) cations
• a total of two "PO"_4^(color(red)(3-) anions

So, the tin cation is in its $+ 2$ oxidation state, which means that you're going to have to use the Roman numeral (II) in the name of the compound.

Finally, ${\text{PO}}_{4}^{3 -}$ is the phosphate polyatomic ion.

Put all this together to get the name of the compound

"Sn"_3("PO"_4)_2 -> tin(II) phosphate