Textbook Question
Determine the number of each type of atom in each formula. b. CuSO4 d. Mg(HCO3)2
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Ch.3 - Molecules and Compounds
Tro5th EditionChemistry: A Molecular ApproachISBN: 9780134874371
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Matter, Measurement & Problem Solving117
- Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements106
- Ch.3 - Molecules and Compounds128
- Ch.4 - Chemical Reactions and Chemical Quantities56
- Ch.5 - Introduction to Solutions and Aqueous Solutions84
- Ch.6 - Gases112
- Ch.7 - Thermochemistry96
- Ch.8 - The Quantum-Mechanical Model of the Atom60
- Ch.9 - Periodic Properties of the Elements86
- Ch.10 - Chemical Bonding I: The Lewis Model91
- Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory85
- Ch.12 - Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces51
- Ch.13 - Solids & Modern Materials48
- Ch.14 - Solutions93
- Ch.15 - Chemical Kinetics114
- Ch.16 - Chemical Equilibrium68
- Ch.17 - Acids and Bases137
- Ch.18 - Aqueous Ionic Equilibrium154
- Ch.19 - Free Energy & Thermodynamics91
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry105
- Ch.21 - Radioactivity & Nuclear Chemistry74
- Ch.22 - Organic Chemistry141
Chapter 3, Problem 24a
Determine the number of each type of atom in each formula. a. Ca(NO2)2 d. Mg(HCO3)2
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the elements present in the compound: Calcium (Ca), Nitrogen (N), and Oxygen (O).
Recognize that the subscript outside the parentheses applies to all elements inside the parentheses. Here, (NO2)2 means there are 2 NO2 groups.
Calculate the number of Calcium (Ca) atoms: There is no subscript next to Ca, so there is 1 Ca atom.
Calculate the number of Nitrogen (N) atoms: Each NO2 group contains 1 N atom, and there are 2 NO2 groups, so there are 2 N atoms.
Calculate the number of Oxygen (O) atoms: Each NO2 group contains 2 O atoms, and there are 2 NO2 groups, so there are 4 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 Ca(NO2)2, 'Ca' stands for calcium, while 'NO2' indicates a nitrite group. The subscript '2' outside the parentheses means that there are two nitrite groups in the compound, which affects the total count of nitrogen and oxygen atoms.
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Intepreting the Band of Stability
Counting Atoms in Compounds
To determine the number of each type of atom in a compound, one must account for both the elements present and their respective subscripts. For example, in Ca(NO2)2, there is one calcium atom, two nitrogen atoms (from 2 x NO2), and four oxygen atoms (from 2 x 2 in NO2). This systematic counting is essential for understanding the composition of the compound.
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Parentheses in Chemical Formulas
Parentheses in chemical formulas indicate that the enclosed group of atoms is a distinct unit that can be multiplied by a subscript. In Ca(NO2)2, the parentheses around NO2 signify that the entire nitrite group is repeated twice, which is crucial for accurately calculating the total number of each atom in the compound.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Write a chemical formula for each molecular model. (See Appendix IIA for color codes.) (a)
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Textbook Question
Determine the number of each type of atom in each formula. c. Al(NO3)3
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Textbook Question
How many molecules are in each sample? b. 389 g CBr4
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Textbook Question
How many atoms are specified by each of these prefixes: mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-?