How many molecules of oxygen are represented by this formula?

Question

2 O2

How many atoms of oxygen are represented by the above formula? (I think it's 2)

Can someone help explain how to tell how many molecules are in a formula?

-Thanks

Answer 1

O2 is a molecule of oxygen. 2 O2 represents two molecules of oxygen.

Molecular oxygen O2 has two atoms of oxygen. Two molecules of molecular oxygen therefore have four atoms of oxygen.

Molecular oxygen O2 is a homonuclear diatomic molecule. Oxygen O3 also exists as a homonuclear triatomic molecule called ozone.

The usual homonuclear diatomic elements are hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine. Astatine is a rare homonuclear diatomic element. Some metals in a gas state are also homonuclear diatomic.

Answer 2

It's 2 atoms of oxygen. If the leading 2 indicates 2 molecules, then it's 4 (2 of O2 is 4). But, I think maybe that leading 2 is a typo? And maybe you meant to say just, O2.

The notation represents how many atoms of each element in a molecule, or a chemical compound. The subscript number that follows the letter tells how many of each element.

For example, H2O

That's two Hydrogen atoms, and one Oxygen to form one molecule of water.


Please see the Wikepedia link below for a great, detailed explanation.

Answer 3

O2 is 2 atoms = 1 molecule.
Therefore, 2O2 = 4 atoms = 2 molecules.

Answer 4

No. of molecules = 2

No. of atoms = 2*2 = 4