What is the chemical formula for arsenate?

The chemical formula for arsenate is represented as AsO4(3-). This indicates that arsenate consists of one arsenic atom (As) bonded to four oxygen atoms (O), and the entire ion carries a negative charge of three. This is characteristic of the arsenate ion, which is an anion commonly encountered in various chemical contexts, particularly in biochemistry and environmental chemistry.

In terms of its structure, the four oxygen atoms are typically arranged around the arsenic atom in a tetrahedral geometry. The negative three charge suggests that this ion can combine with positively charged ions to form various compounds, such as salts.

The other choices provided do not correspond to arsenate. For example, AsO3(3-) denotes arsenite, not arsenate. The formula BO3(3-) represents borate, while H2O is simply water, neither of which relate to arsenate. Understanding the distinction between these similar sounding compounds is crucial in chemistry, especially when discussing anions and their reactivity.