Is phosphate PO3 or PO4?

Phosphate is represented by the chemical formula PO4.

Phosphate is PO4. To determine the chemical formula for phosphate, we need to consider the oxidation states of the elements involved. Phosphorus, denoted by the symbol P, typically has an oxidation state of +5. Oxygen, denoted by the symbol O, has an oxidation state of -2.

Since we have four oxygen atoms in phosphate, the total charge contributed by oxygen is (4 × -2) = -8. The overall charge of the phosphate ion must be neutral, so the charge contributed by phosphorus must be +8 to balance out the negative charge from oxygen.

Considering that phosphorus typically has an oxidation state of +5, it means that phosphorus only contributes +5 to the total charge. Thus, we subtract 5 from 8 to determine the remaining charge that must be balanced by the charge of the phosphate ion, which is -3. This remaining charge is therefore divided by the number of oxygen atoms, which is 4, resulting in an oxidation state of -3/4 for each oxygen atom.

Therefore, the chemical formula for phosphate is PO4, with a charge of -3 uniformly distributed among the oxygen atoms.

Neither. Phosphate ion is PO4^3-

Phosphite ion is PO3^3-