explain why phosphate ion is more symmetric
Answers
Answered by
1
There are multiple different things to consider for phosphate PO43−POX4X3−:
The bonds themselves. Each of the four P−OP−O single bonds is polarised towards the oxygen. Each bond is polar.
The molecule as a whole. It is of near-perfect tetrahedral shape thus having the point group TdTd. This point group includes the inversion symmetry operation ii. Therefore, macroscopic properties of a vectorial type (like the overall dipole moment which is a vector more or less pointing from one pole to the other) must, by definition, be 00. Thus, the entire molecule is not a dipole.
The molecule’s total charge. It has an overall charge of −3−3. This charge is located on the surrounding oxygens but the entire thing can be simplified from far away to a ball with the charge in the centre, i.e. the phosphorus atom. We would consider this molecular ion a monopole.
The bonds themselves. Each of the four P−OP−O single bonds is polarised towards the oxygen. Each bond is polar.
The molecule as a whole. It is of near-perfect tetrahedral shape thus having the point group TdTd. This point group includes the inversion symmetry operation ii. Therefore, macroscopic properties of a vectorial type (like the overall dipole moment which is a vector more or less pointing from one pole to the other) must, by definition, be 00. Thus, the entire molecule is not a dipole.
The molecule’s total charge. It has an overall charge of −3−3. This charge is located on the surrounding oxygens but the entire thing can be simplified from far away to a ball with the charge in the centre, i.e. the phosphorus atom. We would consider this molecular ion a monopole.
Similar questions