How to Find the Charge on the Phosphate Ion

Описание: There are two ways to determine the charge on the Phosphate ion (PO4 3-). The first, and probably quickest is to just memorize that the Phosphate ion has a charge of 3- . [Note that the - sign goes after the number for ions.]

The second way is to calculate the formal charge for the ion. While this is effective, it is time consuming. For this reason it is a good idea to understand how to find the charge of the Phosphate ion but then memorize that it is 3-.

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Note that when we look at the charge on ions, it is important to understand that ions come in pairs. In an ionic compound like CsCl, the Cs is a positive ion (Cs+) and has transferred/lost an electron to the Chlorine atom which now has an extra electron and is negative (Cl-). We can dissolve CsCl in water and it will split apart into Cs+ and Cl-. The electron from the Cs is now with the Cl.

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