Question

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

$\mathrm{CO}$

Answer 1

Atom

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

Atoms in $\mathrm{CO}$

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

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

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