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When rubidium (Rb) and phosphorus (P) bond ionically, they form the compound rubidium phosphide, and it has the formula Rb3P. This is because rubidium has a charge of +1 during bonding (because of its 1 valence electron) and phosphorus has a charge of -3 (because of its 5 valence electrons - see "octet rule.") Thus, it takes 3 rubidiums to satisfy phosphorus' need for 3 electrons. It is incorrect to call this compound "rubidium tri-phosphide," because this scenario is the only way those two elements can bond, so any prefixes would be redundant. In the naming of ionic compounds, the cation comes first, and its name is unchanged, but the anion gains the suffix "-ide."

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Q: How do you express Rb and P3- as a chemical formula?
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