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Oxyanion
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<p>An oxyanion, or oxoanion, is an <a href="/facts/Ion/3bePpDna">ion</a> with the generic formula A<i>x</i>O<i>z</i>−<i>y</i> (where A represents a <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">chemical element</a> and O represents an <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> atom). Oxyanions are formed by a large majority of the <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">chemical elements</a>. The formulae of simple oxyanions are determined by the <a href="/facts/Octet_rule/X9jxSsos">octet rule</a>. The corresponding <a href="/facts/Oxyacid/p0bMdwSx">oxyacid</a> of an oxyanion is the compound H<i>z</i>A<i>x</i>O<i>y</i>. The structures of condensed oxyanions can be rationalized in terms of AO<i>n</i> polyhedral units with sharing of corners or edges between polyhedra. The oxyanions (specifically, phosphate and polyphosphate esters) adenosine monophosphate (<a href="/facts/Adenosine_monophosphate/D9Ryfqad">AMP</a>), adenosine diphosphate (<a href="/facts/Adenosine_diphosphate/JEDnsCjn">ADP</a>) and <a href="/facts/Adenosine_triphosphate/nB9bwgcU">adenosine triphosphate</a> (ATP) are important in biology. </p>