[tequilamargarita]

I had a test with the problem __P₄O₇ _____ and I put 1P₄O₇ PO₄ + PO₃ + P₂ as my answer but it’s wrong? So why is this wrong and how would you go about finding the right answer?

[Babcock_Hall]

Do those products exist?

[tequilamargarita]

ohh I looked it up so it’s because polyatomic ions can’t exist on their own?

[Babcock_Hall]

I am not entirely sure I know what you mean.  Na₃PO₄ exists (it is a salt), and it could dissociate into three sodium ions and the phosphate tri-anion, which should be written PO₄^3- to show that it has a formal charge of minus 3.  But I never heard of a neutral chemical species PO₄.