Question

Explain how $4C{{a}_{3}}{{(P{{O}_{4}})}_{2}}$ contains 52 total atoms?

Answer 1

Hint: Calcium phosphate belongs to a family of minerals and materials consisting calcium ions along with inorganic phosphate anions. Some so-called calcium phosphates consist of oxides and hydroxide as well. They are white coloured solids of great nutritious value.

Complete answer:
Calcium phosphate is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid whose chemical formula is written as $C{{a}_{3}}{{(P{{O}_{4}})}_{2}}$. It is also called Calcium phosphate tribasic or Tricalcium Phosphate. Apatite is an impure and complex form of calcium phosphate from which calcium phosphate is produced which is also a mineral rock.
This ionic compound is formed in the presence of water so this compound dissolves readily in water. The combination of +2 and -3 ion charges suggests that this will be an insoluble compound so the solid state is used.
Calcium phosphates are found in many living organisms, like , in bone mineral and tooth enamel. In milk, it exists in a colloidal form in micelles bound to casein protein along with magnesium, zinc, and citrate - which is together termed as colloidal calcium phosphate (CCP).
Now One unit of calcium phosphate consists of 3 calcium atoms and 2 units of phosphate ions.
So it consists of 2 phosphorus atoms and 8 oxygen atoms .
So one unit of calcium phosphate contains total 13 atoms
So 4 units of calcium phosphate contains $4\times 13$=52 atoms.

Note:
Calcium phosphate has a huge role in medical fields. Calcium phosphate may be used to treat diseases caused due to low calcium levels for example bone loss (osteoporosis), weak bones (osteomalacia/rickets), decreased activity of the parathyroid gland (hypoparathyroidism), and a certain muscle disease (latent tetany).