I am working with cations, and anions. Are you supposed to have the subscripts balance, or the top numbers? Or both? Why would a cation of AL +3( upper corner) and an anion of PO -3 in the upper corner 3 as the subscript become a compound of AlPO3(subscript). I see how Al shouldn't have any numbers by it, but I don't see why PO should have a three as a subscript. Why is that? Thank you for your help.
If the superscript (top number) is balance, then you don't have to do anything with the subscript.
Since Al has a +3 charge and PO has a -3 charge yout going to have to make it neutralize it.
Al^3(PO-)3 The first 3 is on top and the second 3 is on the bottom. I put paranthises around the PO- because its polyatomic
Ok now, Since Al^3 has a +3 charge, PO- will need a subscript of 3 to make it neutralize. 3-3 = 0
Sorry typo:
Since Al has a +3 charge and PO has a -3 charge yout going to have to make it neutralize it.
Should be:
Since Al has a +3 charge and PO has -1 charge yout going to have to make it neutralize it.
you're not "yout"
An easier way is to look at the site I gave you in another post and you notice phosphate is PO4^-3. Now, since all compounds are zero, AlPO4 is the formula for aluminum phosphate BECAUSE Al is +3 and PO4 is -3 and +3 and -3 = 0.
When working with cations and anions, it is important to ensure that the charges balance to form a neutral compound. In the case of cations, the charge is denoted by the upper corner number, called the charge or oxidation state. For anions, the charge is represented by the subscript number.
To determine the subscript for each ion in the compound, you have to consider the charges of the ions involved. The subscript is determined by the requirement of neutralizing the total charge of the compound.
In the example you mentioned, you have a cation with Al +3 (upper corner) and an anion with PO -3 (upper corner). To form a neutral compound, their charges must balance. In this case, since the charge of the cation is +3, and the charge of the anion is -3, the subscript for each ion is 1. This means that you end up with a compound formula of AlPO3, with Al+3 and PO3-.
Therefore, the subscript is applied to the anion, PO, to ensure that the overall compound maintains charge neutrality. The subscript is used to indicate the correct ratio of ions required to balance the charges in the compound. In this case, it indicates that one cation (Al+3) combines with one anion (PO3-).
Remember, when writing chemical formulas, balancing the charges is essential to ensure that the compound is electrically neutral.