Understanding chemical depictions.

[Robotesco]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Phosphat-Ion.svg
This image is a depiction for the chemical formula of A phosphate PO4^3−
I understand the ^3- represents the the Oxygen atoms.

I was wondering what exactly does it mean; I would assume it means the atom has a negative charge.

What do the symbols connecting the O atoms to the Phosphate represent? The = symbol, the solid and striped triangle, and the single line.

 

[Bystander]

^3- represents the the Oxygen atoms.

No. "-3" or "3-" indicates that the polyatomic ion, comprised of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms has a charge of -3.

 

[Robotesco]

No. "-3" or "3-" indicates that the polyatomic ion, comprised of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms has a charge of -3.

You don't understand what the symbols connecting the oxygen atoms to the phosphate atoms?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Phosphat-Ion.svg

 

[Bystander]

You see the red X on the attached image? It means it didn't come through for anyone on the forum to examine. I can guess, but that's not instructive.

 

[Robotesco]

You see the red X on the attached image? It means it didn't come through for anyone on the forum to examine. I can guess, but that's not instructive.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Phosphat-Ion.svg

 

[Bystander]

A 3-D representation, the solid triangle representing a bond emerging from the plane of the paper from phosphorus to oxygen, the dashed triangle a bond "into" the paper to another oxygen, the solid line a "single" bond in the plane of the paper, and the double line a double bond in the plane of the paper. It's easier to portray the structure of the ion this way than with a tetrahedron of four 5/4 bonds.

 

[Robotesco]

 

[Robotesco]

A 3-D representation, the solid triangle representing a bond emerging from the plane of the paper from phosphorus to oxygen, the dashed triangle a bond "into" the paper to another oxygen, the solid line a "single" bond in the plane of the paper, and the double line a double bond in the plane of the paper. It's easier to portray the structure of the ion this way than with a tetrahedron of four 5/4 bonds.

I assumed they represented different dimensions of its position bonded to the phosphate. When you say the solid triangle represents the bond emerging from the plane of the paper are you saying the element is being repelled by the phosphate but still bonded? Whats the difference between a single bond and a double bond in the same chemical formula?

 

[DrClaude]

When you say the solid triangle represents the bond emerging from the plane of the paper are you saying the element is being repelled by the phosphate but still bonded?

There is no repelling. It is only to get a 2D representation of a 3D structure, a triangular pyramid in this case. All three P-O^- bonds are to be taken as equivalent.

Whats the difference between a single bond and a double bond in the same chemical formula?

In reality, all P-O bonds should be equivalent. You will get http://www.chem.ucla.edu/harding/tutorials/resonance/draw_res_str.html

 

[Alcathous]

It's bonds pointing towards or away from you. It matters for stereochemistry.as a tetrahedral doesn't fit in a plane.