Question

Question:Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a heavy-duty cleaning agent. Write its chemical formula. What would be the systematic name for this ionic compound?

Short answer

The systematic name for trisodium phosphate (TSP) is sodium phosphate and its chemical formula is ${\text{Na}}_{\text{3}}{\text{PO}}_{\text{4}}$.

Step-by-step solution

Chemical formula for risodium phosphate (TSP)

Although this material is well-known as a cleaning agent, its scientific name is not well understood. The prefix above, on the other hand, may imply that it is not substantially different.

Chemical formula

${\text{Na}}_{\text{3}}{\text{PO}}_{\text{4}}$, the correct name, is sodium phosphate. The prefix is not needed because the $\text{P}{{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}}^{\text{3 -}}$phosphate ion can only form compounds with three sodium ions. The "di-" and "mono-" sodium phosphates are made up of anions that are somewhat different and not deprotonated.

Therefore, the chemical formula is ${\text{Na}}_{\text{3}}{\text{PO}}_{\text{4}}$and the systematic name is sodium phosphate.