Determine the number of each type of atom in each formula. a. Sr2HPO4

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Identify the chemical formula: \( \text{Sr}_2\text{HPO}_4 \).

Break down the formula into its constituent elements: Strontium (Sr), Hydrogen (H), Phosphorus (P), and Oxygen (O).

Count the number of each type of atom in the formula: There are 2 Strontium (Sr) atoms, 1 Hydrogen (H) atom, 1 Phosphorus (P) atom, and 4 Oxygen (O) atoms.

Verify the subscripts in the chemical formula to ensure accurate counting of each atom type.

Summarize the count: 2 Sr, 1 H, 1 P, and 4 O atoms in \( \text{Sr}_2\text{HPO}_4 \).

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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 Sr2HPO4, the subscripts indicate how many of each atom are present. For example, 'Sr2' means there are two strontium atoms, while 'H', 'P', and 'O' represent one hydrogen, one phosphorus, and four oxygen atoms, respectively.

Subscripts in Chemical Formulas

Subscripts in chemical formulas are numerical indicators that specify the quantity of each type of atom in a molecule. If no subscript is present, it is understood to be one. For instance, in Sr2HPO4, the '2' after Sr indicates two strontium atoms, while the absence of a subscript after H and P indicates one of each.

Counting Atoms in Compounds

Counting atoms in a chemical formula involves identifying each element and summing the total number of atoms based on the subscripts. In Sr2HPO4, you would count 2 strontium (Sr), 1 hydrogen (H), 1 phosphorus (P), and 4 oxygen (O) atoms, leading to a total of 8 atoms in the compound.

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