Question

what is the name of the compound (nh₄)₃po₄?
○ammonium phosphide
○triammonium phosphide
○ammonium phosphoroxide
○ammonium phosphate
○triammonium phosphate

Explanation:

To name the compound \((\text{NH}_4)_3\text{PO}_4\), we first identify the ions. The cation is the ammonium ion \(\text{NH}_4^+\) and the anion is the phosphate ion \(\text{PO}_4^{3-}\). To balance the charges, we need 3 ammonium ions (each with a \(+1\) charge) to balance the \(3-\) charge of the phosphate ion. When naming ionic compounds with polyatomic ions, we use the name of the cation (ammonium) and the name of the anion (phosphate). We do not use a prefix for the ammonium ion here because the subscript 3 is determined by the charge balance, and for ammonium (a polyatomic cation) in ionic compounds with polyatomic anions, we name the cation and anion directly with the correct charge - balancing ratio implied. So the compound is ammonium phosphate.

Answer:

D. ammonium phosphate