1. Calcium (Ca) has a +2 charge. This is because it loses two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.
2. Phosphate (PO4) has a -3 charge. This is because each oxygen atom in the phosphate ion has a -2 charge, and the remaining oxygen has a -1 charge. Therefore, the total negative charge of the phosphate ion is -3.
3. To form a neutral compound, the positive and negative charges must balance. This means that for every two calcium ions (+2 each), there must be three phosphate ions (-3 each).
So, the valency of calcium phosphate is:
2 (Ca) x (+2) = +4
3 (PO4) x (-3) = -9
Therefore, the valency of calcium phosphate is +5, as it requires five positive charges from the calcium ions to balance the nine negative charges from the phosphate ions.
