There are 9 atoms in one molecule of Pb(NO3)2.
Understanding the Atomic Composition of Lead(II) Nitrate
Lead(II) nitrate, represented by the chemical formula Pb(NO3)2, is an important inorganic compound. To determine the total number of atoms in a single molecule, we systematically count the atoms of each element present based on its subscript in the chemical formula. The formula indicates the presence of lead (Pb), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) atoms.
The structure of the formula Pb(NO3)2 reveals that there is one lead (Pb) atom, and the nitrate group (NO3) is enclosed in parentheses with a subscript of '2'. This subscript outside the parentheses signifies that everything within those parentheses is multiplied by two.
Detailed Breakdown of Atoms
The precise count of each type of atom in Pb(NO3)2 is as follows:
| Element | Number of Atoms | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | 1 | Indicated by 'Pb' |
| Nitrogen (N) | 2 | (1 atom N per NO3) × 2 |
| Oxygen (O) | 6 | (3 atoms O per NO3) × 2 |
| Total | 9 | 1 (Pb) + 2 (N) + 6 (O) |
Let's break down the calculation for each element:
- Lead (Pb): There is a single lead atom. The absence of a subscript after 'Pb' implicitly means there is one atom of lead.
- Nitrogen (N): Inside the parentheses, there is one nitrogen atom in the nitrate (NO3) group. Because the entire nitrate group is taken twice (indicated by the subscript '2' outside the parentheses), the total number of nitrogen atoms is 1 (from NO3) × 2 = 2 nitrogen atoms.
- Oxygen (O): Inside the parentheses, there are three oxygen atoms in the nitrate (NO3) group. Since the entire nitrate group is taken twice, the total number of oxygen atoms is 3 (from NO3) × 2 = 6 oxygen atoms.
By summing the atoms of each element, we get the total: 1 (Pb) + 2 (N) + 6 (O) = 9 atoms in total for one molecule of Pb(NO3)2.
