The table shows the names and formulae of three ions - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 6
The table shows the names and formulae of three ions.
name of ion formula of ion
calcium Ca²⁺
nitrate NO₃⁻
phosphate PO₄³⁻
What is the formula of calcium nitrate?
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Worked Solution & Example Answer:The table shows the names and formulae of three ions - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
What is the formula of calcium nitrate?
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Answer
To find the formula for calcium nitrate, we need to combine the ions calcium (Ca²⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻). Calcium has a +2 charge and nitrate has a -1 charge, so it will take two nitrate ions to balance the charge of one calcium ion. Therefore, the formula for calcium nitrate is:
Ca(NO3)2
The correct choice is B: Ca(NO₃)₂.
Step 2
The number of oxygen atoms in the formula Ca₃(PO₄)₂ is
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Answer
In the formula Ca₃(PO₄)₂, we can break it down as follows:
Each phosphate (PO₄) has 4 oxygen atoms.
The subscript 2 outside the parentheses means there are 2 phosphate ions.