Question

What is the atomicity of phosphorous in its molecule?

Answer 1

Atomicity

• Atomicity can be defined as the total number of atoms combines to form a molecule.
• atomicity can be calculated by calculating the total number of atoms in a molecule
• For example: In a ${\mathrm{H}}_2$molecule, there are 2 atoms of hydrogen atoms, hence the atomicity is 2

Phosphorous

• The phosphorous molecule exists as ${\mathrm{P}}_4$
• The phosphorous molecule is tetra atomic since it contains 4 phosphorous atoms

Hence the atomicity of phosphorous molecule is 4.