Types of Chemical Formulas

Na(PO₄)₃

_{- What do we know by looking this formula?}

_{Quality: Sodium, Phosphorous, and Oxygen.}

_{Quantity: 1 atom of Na, 3 atoms of Phosphorous, and 12 atoms of Oxygen.}

THINK ABOUT THIS:

When there is a subscript outside the parenthesis, this tells us the number of molecules present for that particular polyatomic ion.

So...... (PO₄)₃ means that you have 3 molecules of PO_4.

(PO₄)_{3 =} PO₄ PO₄ PO₄

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