Which of the following polyatomic ions has a 3- ionic charge: hydrogen carbonate, hydroxide, sulfate, nitrate, or phosphate?

1 Answer
Nikka C.
Nov 3, 2015

#PO_4^"3-"#

Explanation:

You can always calculate for the formal charges, or better yet, draw the structure then count the number of electrons. But if you find these methods taxing, then you can always memorize the list of anions and their charges.

(1) hydrogen carbonate or bicarbonate ion: #HCO_3^-#
(2) sulfate ion: #SO_4^"2-"#
(3) nitrate ion: #NO_3^"-"#
(4) phosphate ion: #PO_4^"3-"#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjL0A2Z1vS8

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Theoretical_Chemistry/Chemical_Bonding/Valence_Bond_Theory/Resonance

https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/basic-concepts-of-chemical-bonding-9/formal-charge-and-resonance-75/resonance-346-1853/

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Organic_Chemistry/Organic_Chemistry_With_a_Biological_Emphasis/Chapter_10%3A_Phosphoryl_transfer_reactions/Section_10.1%3A_Overview_of_phosphates_and_phosphoryl_transfer_reactions

Related questions
See all questions in Polyatomic Ions
Impact of this question
9282 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License