Question

Which statement correctly describes the phosphate ion, ? It is composed of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms covalently bonded together, and there is a –3 charge distributed over the entire ion. It is composed of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms covalently bonded together, and there is a –3 charge on the phosphorus atom. It is composed of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms ionically bonded together, and there is a –3 charge distributed over the entire ion. It is composed of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms ionically bonded together, and there is a –3 charge on the phosphorus atom.

Answer 1

Answer: A.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

It is composed of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms covalently bonded together, and there is a –3 charge distributed over the entire ion.

Explanation:

The formula of phosphate ion is PO₄³⁻

The formula shows a phosphorus atom surrounded by 4 oxygen atoms.

For this bond to be established, phosphorus would be covalenty bonded to the oxygen atoms.

A covalent bond arises when two atoms with similar zero or very small electronegativity difference(≤ 0.5 ) combines. The electronegativity difference between phosphorus and oxygen is less than 0.5 and the two atom would bond by sharing of their electrons.

The net charge on the resulting radical is a -3 charge which it uses to form other bond types with other atoms. The charge implies an excess of 3 electrons on the radical formed.