Accepted answer
Answer included
Determine the number of elements for each compound 4nh3 can be handled by separating two ideas: (1) how many different element symbols appear in the formula, and (2) how many atoms of each element are represented once the coefficient is applied.
Given expression: 4NH3
Step-by-step interpretation of 4NH3
-
Identify distinct element symbols.
In NH3, the symbols are N (nitrogen) and H (hydrogen).
Therefore, the number of elements is 2. -
Read subscripts as “atoms per molecule.”
In NH3, nitrogen has an implied subscript of 1, so there is 1 N atom per molecule. Hydrogen has subscript 3, so there are 3 H atoms per molecule. -
Apply the coefficient to get totals.
The coefficient 4 multiplies the entire formula (it means 4 molecules of ammonia).
Nitrogen atoms total: \(4 \times 1 = 4\).
Hydrogen atoms total: \(4 \times 3 = 12\).
Counts for each element in 4NH3
| Element | Atoms per NH3 molecule | Coefficient | Total atoms in 4NH3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 1 | 4 | \(4 \times 1 = 4\) |
| H | 3 | 4 | \(4 \times 3 = 12\) |
Final results
- Number of distinct elements: 2 (N and H)
- Total nitrogen atoms: 4
- Total hydrogen atoms: 12
- Total atoms represented: \(4 + 12 = 16\)
Visualization: four NH3 molecules represented by the coefficient 4
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ignoring the coefficient. The 4 multiplies both N and H counts; it is not part of the element symbol.
- Misreading the missing subscript. A missing subscript means 1 atom (so N is 1 in NH3).
- Confusing “number of elements” with “number of atoms.” 4NH3 has 2 elements, but it represents 16 total atoms.
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