Go Back   > Science, Technology & Devices > General Discussion

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old December 6th, 2005, 18:04
utopiapraxis utopiapraxis is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6
utopiapraxis is on a distinguished road
Default Structural Formula of Polyatomic ions

Hello, I'm very new to chemistry so bear with me if I seem to be too much of a newbie..hehe.

I seem to be having trouble understanding the structural formulas of polyatomic ions. Can somebody please explain to me how to draw the structural formula of a phosphate ion, PO4^3-. <-----(hope that makes sense; please correct me if it doesn't). I have attempted this and my solution is the phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms each with a single covalent bond. The answer I have retrieved off of various online databases however, suggests the phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, three with a single covalent bond, the fourth O atom with a double covalent bond. Which one is right? Please help!! I get the impression that my error has something to do with the fact that one or more of the oxygen atoms are bonded as a coordinate covalent bond in which case I still have no clue of what's going on.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:22.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.