How many moles of oxygen atoms are present in one mole of CO_2?

• A. 1 mole
• B. 3 moles
• C. 2 moles
• D. 0.5 mole

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula of carbon dioxide, which is \(\mathrm{CO_2}\), indicating one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms per molecule.
2. Understand that one mole of \(\mathrm{CO_2}\) contains Avogadro's number of molecules, and each molecule has 2 oxygen atoms.
3. Calculate the total moles of oxygen atoms by multiplying the number of moles of \(\mathrm{CO_2}\) by the number of oxygen atoms per molecule: \$1 \text{ mole } \times 2 = 2 \text{ moles of oxygen atoms}$.
4. Recognize that the question asks for moles of oxygen atoms, not molecules, so the answer corresponds to the total oxygen atoms present.
5. Conclude that one mole of \(\mathrm{CO_2}\) contains 2 moles of oxygen atoms.