To determine the total number of atoms in a compound, you need to consider the subscripts in the chemical formula and multiply them by the corresponding coefficients. Let's break down the chemical formula 2Ca3(PO4)2 to determine the total number of atoms.
2Ca3(PO4)2 means there are two units of Ca3(PO4)2 in the compound.
In Ca3(PO4)2:
- Ca represents calcium and has a subscript of 3, indicating that there are three calcium atoms.
- (PO4) represents a phosphate group, which consists of one phosphorus atom (P) and four oxygen atoms (O) bonded together. Therefore, there are one phosphorus atom and four oxygen atoms in each phosphate group. The subscript 2 indicates that there are two phosphate groups in the compound.
So, we can calculate the total number of atoms as follows:
Total number of calcium atoms = 2 units × 3 calcium atoms = 6 calcium atoms
Total number of phosphorus atoms = 2 units × 1 phosphorus atom = 2 phosphorus atoms
Total number of oxygen atoms = 2 units × 4 oxygen atoms × 2 phosphate groups = 16 oxygen atoms
Therefore, in 2Ca3(PO4)2, there are a total of 6 calcium atoms, 2 phosphorus atoms, and 16 oxygen atoms.