1. Identify the Ions:
* Zinc (Zn) forms a +2 cation (Zn²⁺)
* Phosphate (PO₄) forms a -3 anion (PO₄³⁻)
2. Balance the Charges:
To form a neutral compound, the positive and negative charges must balance.
* The least common multiple of 2 and 3 is 6.
* To achieve a +6 charge, we need three zinc ions (3 x +2 = +6)
* To achieve a -6 charge, we need two phosphate ions (2 x -3 = -6)
3. Write the Formula:
The chemical formula is written with the cation first, followed by the anion, and the number of each ion is indicated by subscripts:
Zn₃(PO₄)₂
