Which of the following correctly identifies the polyatomic ion present in manganese(II) sulfite (MnSO3) and manganese(II) sulfate (MnSO4)?

• A. SO3^{2-} is the polyatomic ion in MnSO3, and SO4^{2-} is the polyatomic ion in MnSO4.
• B. SO2 is the polyatomic ion in both MnSO3 and MnSO4.
• C. SO4^{2-} is the polyatomic ion in MnSO3, and SO3^{2-} is the polyatomic ion in MnSO4.
• D. Mn^{2+} is the polyatomic ion in both MnSO3 and MnSO4.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formulas given: manganese(II) sulfite is MnSO3 and manganese(II) sulfate is MnSO4.
2. Recall that in these compounds, Mn^{2+} is the metal cation with a +2 charge, and the polyatomic ion is the anion part containing sulfur and oxygen.
3. Recognize that sulfite and sulfate are two different polyatomic ions: sulfite is SO3^{2-} and sulfate is SO4^{2-}.
4. Match the polyatomic ion to the compound name: sulfite corresponds to SO3^{2-} in MnSO3, and sulfate corresponds to SO4^{2-} in MnSO4.
5. Conclude that the correct identification is SO3^{2-} in manganese(II) sulfite and SO4^{2-} in manganese(II) sulfate.