In a molecule of H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid), the subscripts in the chemical formula indicate the number of atoms present. Let's break down the formula and determine the number of atoms for each element:
H₂SO₄:
- H: There are 2 hydrogen atoms (H₂).
- S: There is 1 sulfur atom (S).
- O: There are 4 oxygen atoms (O₄).
Adding up the individual counts, we have:
2 hydrogen atoms + 1 sulfur atom + 4 oxygen atoms = 7 atoms
Therefore, a molecule of H₂SO₄ contains 7 atoms.