Determine the number of each type of atom in each formula. b. Co(ClO4)2

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Identify the elements present in the chemical formula Co(ClO_4)_2. The elements are Cobalt (Co), Chlorine (Cl), and Oxygen (O).

Determine the subscript for each element. Cobalt (Co) has no subscript, so it is 1. The perchlorate ion (ClO_4) has a subscript of 2, indicating there are two perchlorate ions.

Calculate the number of Chlorine (Cl) atoms. Since there are two ClO_4 ions, and each contains one Cl atom, multiply 1 by 2 to get 2 Cl atoms.

Calculate the number of Oxygen (O) atoms. Each ClO_4 ion contains 4 O atoms. Multiply 4 by 2 (the number of ClO_4 ions) to get 8 O atoms.

Summarize the number of each type of atom: 1 Cobalt (Co), 2 Chlorine (Cl), and 8 Oxygen (O) atoms.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Chemical Formula Interpretation

A chemical formula represents the types and numbers of atoms in a compound. In the formula Co(ClO4)2, the 'Co' indicates one cobalt atom, while '(ClO4)2' signifies that there are two of the perchlorate ion (ClO4), which contains one chlorine atom and four oxygen atoms each. Understanding how to read and interpret these symbols is crucial for determining the composition of the compound.

Subscripts and Coefficients

In chemical formulas, subscripts indicate the number of atoms of an element in a molecule, while coefficients indicate the number of molecules. For example, in Co(ClO4)2, the '2' outside the parentheses means that there are two of the ClO4 units, leading to a total of two chlorine atoms and eight oxygen atoms. Recognizing the role of these numbers is essential for accurate atom counting.

Ionic Compounds and Polyatomic Ions

Ionic compounds often consist of metal cations and non-metal anions, including polyatomic ions, which are groups of atoms that carry a charge. In Co(ClO4)2, cobalt acts as a cation, while ClO4 is a polyatomic anion. Understanding the nature of these ions helps in identifying the overall structure and composition of the compound.