The formula of a compound is N₂O. How many of each type of atom are in one molecule of N₂O?
How to approach this question
Look at the chemical formula N₂O. The subscript number after an element symbol tells you how many atoms of that element are in the molecule. If there is no number, it means there is 1 atom.
Full Answer
In a chemical formula, the subscript number indicates the number of atoms of the element immediately preceding it. In N₂O:\n- The subscript '2' after N means there are 2 nitrogen atoms.\n- There is no subscript after O, which implies there is 1 oxygen atom.
Common mistakes
✗ Getting the numbers the wrong way round.\n✗ Thinking no number means zero atoms.
Expert