Question

What is the ionic formula of the compound formed by Co3+ and the phosphorus ion? What is the name of the compound formed based on the ionic compound formula?

Answer 1

Answer: The ionic formula of compound is $CoP$ and the name is cobalt phosphide.

Explanation:

For formation of a neutral ionic compound, the charges on cation and anion must be balanced. The cation is formed by loss of electrons by metals and anions are formed by gain of electrons by non metals.

Here element Co is having an oxidation state of +3 called as $Co^{3+}$ cation and phosphprous forms $P^{3-}$ anion with oxidation state of -3. Thus they combine and their oxidation states are exchanged and written in simplest whole number ratios to give neutral $CoP$

The nomenclature of ionic compounds is given by:

1. Positive is written first followed by the oxidation state of metal in roman numerals in square brackets.

2. The negative ion is written next and a suffix is added at the end of the negative ion. The suffix written is '-ide'.

Thus the name of $CoP$ is cobalt phosphide.