How can the number of atoms of an individual element be determined by usung a chemical formula?

1 Answer
David Drayer · Ernest Z.
Feb 4, 2018

The subscripts give the number of atoms of a particular atom.

Explanation:

In BaCl2 there is no subscript next to the Ba, so the number of atoms of barium
is 1. There is a subscript of 2 next to the chlorine, so the number of chlorine atoms is 2.

If there is a polyatomic ion, it is necessary to multiply the subscript of the polyatomic ion by the subscript of atoms in the polyatomic ion.

In Fe2(CO3)3 the number of iron atoms is two because of the subscript next to it. The number of carbon atoms is 3 (1×3=3). The number of oxygen atoms is 9 (3×3=9).

To find the number of the individual atoms in a molecular formula look at the subscripts and pay attention to the math.

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