Question

How do you find the atomic mass number of phosphate?

Answer 1

As we know that the to find the atomic mass of a compound that is having multiple atoms present in it, we will sum up all the atomic mass of the constituent atoms. Here, in this question we will first see which atoms are present in phosphate ion and then will sum up all the atomic mass of the constituent atoms.

Complete step by step answer:
- As we know that the chemical formula of phosphate is $PO_{4}^{-3}$ , and it is a polyatomic ion.
- It is found that phosphate molecules have 4 atoms of oxygen and one atom of phosphorus.
- The atomic mass of phosphorus is found to be 30.97 amu. and the atomic mass of oxygen is found to be 15.99 amu.
- As there is one atom of phosphorus that is its atomic mass is equal to 30.97 and four atoms of oxygen that is its atomic mass is equal to 4 X 15.99 = 63.96 amu.
- Now, we will add the individual masses of 4 atoms of oxygen and one atom of phosphorus. So, by adding we get:
30.97 + 63.96 = 94.93 amu
- Hence, we can conclude that the atomic mass number of phosphate is 94.93 amu.

Note: - As we know that there is difference in between organic and inorganic phosphates. Organic phosphates also called as organophosphates are ester compounds of phosphoric acid. Whereas inorganic phosphates are inorganic salts of phosphoric acid.