the phosphate of a metal has the formula M3PO4 the formula of chloride will be

To determine the formula of the chloride, we need to consider the charge of the metal ion in the phosphate compound.

Given that the phosphate has a formula of M3PO4, we can infer that the metal ion (M) has a charge of +3. This is because the phosphate ion (PO4) has a charge of -3, and since the overall compound is neutral, the charges of the metal ion and the phosphate ion must balance out.

Now, let's consider the chloride ion (Cl-). Since the overall compound must be neutral, the charge of the metal ion must balance out the charge of the chloride ion.

Since the metal ion has a charge of +3, we need three chloride ions to balance out the charge. Therefore, the formula of the chloride will be MCl3.