the compound magnesium phosphate has the chemical formula mg3(po4)2. in this compound, phosphorous and…

the compound magnesium phosphate has the chemical formula mg3(po4)2. in this compound, phosphorous and oxygen act together as one charged particle, which is connected to magnesium, the other charged particle. what does the 2 mean in the formula 5mg3(po4)2?\nthere are two elements in magnesium phosphate.\nthere are two molecules of magnesium phosphate.\nthere are two magnesium ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.\nthere are two phosphate ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.

the compound magnesium phosphate has the chemical formula mg3(po4)2. in this compound, phosphorous and oxygen act together as one charged particle, which is connected to magnesium, the other charged particle. what does the 2 mean in the formula 5mg3(po4)2?\nthere are two elements in magnesium phosphate.\nthere are two molecules of magnesium phosphate.\nthere are two magnesium ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.\nthere are two phosphate ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.

Answer

Answer:

D. There are two phosphate ions in a molecule of magnesium phosphate.

Brief Explanations:

In the chemical formula $Mg_3(PO_4)_2$, the sub - script 2 outside the parentheses indicates that there are two $PO_4^{3 - }$ (phosphate) ions in one molecule of magnesium phosphate. The 5 in front is the coefficient indicating the number of magnesium phosphate molecules in a sample, but the question focuses on the 2 in the formula of the compound itself.