How to Count Atoms
Practice Worksheet
1. The symbol of an element represents one atom of that element.
e.g. Na = 1 atom of Na
2. A subscript is a number written at the lower right corner behind the symbol of
an element. If there is more than one atom of the element, then a subscript is used
to indicate the number of atoms.
e.g. H2 = 2 atoms of H
3. A subscript outside a bracket multiples all the elements inside the bracket
e.g. Mg3(PO4)2 = 3 atoms of Mg, 2 atoms of P, 8 atoms of O (the ‘2’
outside the bracket multiplies both the ‘P’ and ‘O 4’)
4. A) A coefficient is a number written in front of a chemical symbol and
indicates the number of atoms of that element
e.g. 3C = 3 atoms of C
OR
B) A coefficient is a number written in front of a chemical formula and indicates the
number of molecules of that compound (a coefficient will multiply the number of
atoms of every element in the formula)
e.g. 2H2O = 2 molecules of H2O and thus, 4 atoms of H and 2 atoms of O
3CuSO4 = 3 molecules of CuSO4 and thus, 3 atoms of Cu, 3 atoms of
S and 12 atoms of O
4Pb(NO3)2 = 4 molecules of Pb(NO3)2 and thus, 4 atoms of Pb, 8 atoms of
N and 24 atoms of O
Counting Atoms Practice
Na2CO3
Name of # of atoms
atom
Na 2
C 1
O 3
Total 6
3K2CrO4
Name of # of atoms
atom
K 6
Cr 3
O 12
Total 21
5Mg3(PO4)2
Name of # of atoms
atom
Mg 15
P 10
O 40
Total 65
Pb(NO3)2
Type of # of atoms
atom
Pb 1
N 2
O 6
Total 9
2(NH4)2Cr2O7
Type of # of atoms
atom
N 4
H 16
Cr 4
O 14
Total 38