Question

State the number of atoms present in each of the following chemical species:

${\mathrm{CO}}_3^{-2}$

Answer 1

Atom

An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter that forms a chemical element.

Atoms in ${\mathrm{CO}}_3^{-2}$

• ${\mathrm{CO}}_3^{-2}$consists of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms.
• The number of atoms in ${\mathrm{CO}}_3^{-2}$is the sum of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms.

No. of carbon atoms = 1
No. of oxygen atoms = 3

Hence, the number of atoms in ${\mathrm{CO}}_3^{-2}$is 4.