Question

What is atomicity?

Answer 1

Understanding the concept:

• The number of atoms that make up a molecule of an element is expressed as its atomicity.
• For instance, the ozone molecule (${\mathrm{O}}_3$) has an atomicity of three since it contains three oxygen atoms.

Classification of atomicity on the basis of the number of atoms in a molecule:

• Monoatomic molecules with only one atom, such as xenon ($\mathrm{Xe}$).
• Diatomic Two atoms make up a diatomic molecule, such as oxygen ($O_2$).
• Triatomic molecules have three atoms, such as ozone ($O_3$).
• Tetratomic molecules have four atoms, such as phosphorus ($P_4$).
• A polyatomic molecule is one with more than four atoms, such as sulfur ($S_8$).