How many oxygen atoms are there in the following compound: 2HNO
Answer (1)
Identify the number of oxygen atoms in one molecule of HNO, which is 1.
Multiply the number of oxygen atoms in one molecule by the coefficient 2.
Calculate the total number of oxygen atoms: 2 × 1 = 2 .
The compound 2HNO contains 2 oxygen atoms.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to find the number of oxygen atoms in the compound 2HNO.
Identifying Oxygen Atoms In the chemical formula 2HNO, the number of oxygen atoms in one molecule of HNO is indicated by the subscript following the O, which is 1. The coefficient 2 in front of HNO means there are two molecules of HNO.
Calculating Total Oxygen Atoms To find the total number of oxygen atoms, we multiply the number of oxygen atoms in one molecule (1) by the coefficient (2). Thus, the total number of oxygen atoms is 2 × 1 = 2 .
Final Answer Therefore, there are 2 oxygen atoms in the compound 2HNO.
Examples
Understanding the composition of chemical compounds is crucial in various fields. For example, in environmental science, knowing the exact number of oxygen atoms in pollutants like nitrogen oxides ( NO x ) helps in assessing their impact on air quality and designing effective control strategies. Similarly, in medicine, the precise oxygen content in drugs and metabolites is essential for understanding their efficacy and potential side effects. This basic skill in chemical stoichiometry provides a foundation for more advanced studies and practical applications.
