How many atoms are present in a (NH4)2SO4 molecule?
15
Understanding Atoms in (NH4)2SO4 Molecule
To determine the total number of atoms present in a molecule of ammonium sulfate, with the chemical formula $ \text{(NH}_4\text{)}_2\text{SO}_4 $, we need to carefully analyze the subscripts in the formula.
The formula $ \text{(NH}_4\text{)}_2\text{SO}_4 $ indicates the composition of one molecule:
- The group inside the parenthesis, $ \text{(NH}_4) $, contains one Nitrogen (N) atom and four Hydrogen (H) atoms.
- The subscript '2' outside the parenthesis means that the entire $ \text{NH}_4 $ group is present twice in the molecule.
- The $ \text{SO}_4 $ group contains one Sulfur (S) atom and four Oxygen (O) atoms.
Step-by-Step Calculation of Atoms
Let's count the atoms of each element:
- Nitrogen (N) atoms: The $ \text{NH}_4 $ group has 1 N atom. Since there are two $ \text{NH}_4 $ groups (indicated by the subscript 2), the total number of Nitrogen atoms is $ 1 \times 2 = 2 $ atoms.
- Hydrogen (H) atoms: The $ \text{NH}_4 $ group has 4 H atoms. Since there are two $ \text{NH}_4 $ groups, the total number of Hydrogen atoms is $ 4 \times 2 = 8 $ atoms.
- Sulfur (S) atoms: The $ \text{SO}_4 $ group has 1 S atom. There is no subscript outside this group (or a subscript of 1 is understood), so the number of Sulfur atoms is $ 1 $ atom.
- Oxygen (O) atoms: The $ \text{SO}_4 $ group has 4 O atoms (indicated by the subscript 4 next to O). The number of Oxygen atoms is $ 4 $ atoms.
Now, we sum up the number of atoms of each element to find the total number of atoms in one molecule of $ \text{(NH}_4\text{)}_2\text{SO}_4 $:
$ \text{Total atoms} = (\text{Number of N atoms}) + (\text{Number of H atoms}) + (\text{Number of S atoms}) + (\text{Number of O atoms}) $
$ \text{Total atoms} = 2 + 8 + 1 + 4 = 15 $
Therefore, there are 15 atoms present in one molecule of $ \text{(NH}_4\text{)}_2\text{SO}_4 $.
| Element | Atoms per group | Number of groups | Total atoms for element |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 1 (in NH4) | 2 | $1 \times 2 = 2$ |
| Hydrogen (H) | 4 (in NH4) | 2 | $4 \times 2 = 8$ |
| Sulfur (S) | 1 (in SO4) | 1 | $1 \times 1 = 1$ |
| Oxygen (O) | 4 (in SO4) | 1 | $4 \times 1 = 4$ |
Summing the total atoms for each element: $ 2 + 8 + 1 + 4 = 15 $ atoms.
Revision Table: Ammonium Sulfate Formula
| Chemical Formula | Name | Interpretation | Total Atoms |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ \text{(NH}_4\text{)}_2\text{SO}_4 $ | Ammonium Sulfate | Two Ammonium ions ($ \text{NH}_4^+ $) and one Sulfate ion ($ \text{SO}_4^{2-} $) | 15 |
Additional Information: Chemical Formulas and Atoms
A chemical formula like $ \text{(NH}_4\text{)}_2\text{SO}_4 $ is a shorthand way to represent the elements and the number of atoms of each element that make up a molecule or a formula unit of a compound. The subscripts following an element symbol indicate the number of atoms of that element. If a group of atoms is enclosed in parentheses and followed by a subscript, it means that the entire group is repeated that many times. This simple method allows chemists to quickly understand the composition of chemical substances.
Understanding how to count atoms from a chemical formula is fundamental in chemistry for various calculations, including determining molecular weight, mole concepts, and stoichiometry.
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