How many of the indicated atoms are represented by each chemical formula: (b) oxygen atoms in Ca(ClO₃)₂ (c) hydrogen atoms in (NH₄)₂HPO₄?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula given, which is Ca1ClO3_2.
2. Recognize that the subscript outside the parentheses multiplies all the atoms inside the parentheses. Here, the subscript '2' applies to all atoms within the parentheses (ClO3).
3. Determine the number of oxygen atoms inside the parentheses. In ClO3, the subscript '3' indicates there are three oxygen atoms.
4. Multiply the number of oxygen atoms by the subscript outside the parentheses. This means 3 oxygen atoms multiplied by 2.
5. Sum up the total number of oxygen atoms calculated from the previous step to find the total number of oxygen atoms in the compound.

Key Concepts

Chemical Formula Interpretation

A chemical formula represents the composition of a compound, indicating the types and numbers of atoms present. In the formula Ca1ClO322, the subscripts denote the number of each type of atom. For example, 'Ca' indicates one calcium atom, 'Cl' indicates one chlorine atom, and 'O' indicates the number of oxygen atoms, which is determined by the subscript following 'O'.

Subscripts in Chemical Formulas

Subscripts in chemical formulas specify the quantity of each atom in a molecule. If a subscript is absent, it implies there is one atom of that element. In the case of Ca1ClO322, the subscript '22' after 'O' indicates that there are 22 oxygen atoms in the compound, which is crucial for determining the total number of oxygen atoms present.

Counting Atoms in Compounds

Counting atoms in a chemical formula involves identifying the elements and their respective quantities as indicated by the subscripts. For the formula Ca1ClO322, one must recognize that the total number of oxygen atoms is derived solely from the subscript associated with 'O'. This process is essential for understanding the molecular composition and stoichiometry of the compound.