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CAIE IGCSE Chemistry 3.1.8 Deduce the symbol equation with state

CAIE IGCSE Chemistry 3.1.8 Deduce the symbol equation with state
Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 20282026–2028

Practise deducing balanced symbol equations from reaction descriptions, including salts, oxides, extraction and decomposition.

How this is tested

  • convert a worded reaction pathway into correct formulae for products
  • balance full symbol equations after deducing missing products or hydrocarbon formulae

Question 3(c)

[Maximum number: 2]

This question is about phosphorus and compounds of phosphorus.

Phosphorus(V) oxide, P4O10\mathrm{P}_{4} \mathrm{O}_{10}, is an acidic oxide.

Phosphorus(V) oxide, P4O10\mathrm{P}_{4} \mathrm{O}_{10}, reacts with aqueous sodium hydroxide to form a salt containing the phosphate ion, PO43−\mathrm{PO}_{4}{ }^{3-}. Water is the only other product.

Write a chemical equation for the reaction between phosphorus(V) oxide and aqueous sodium hydroxide.