Input interpretation
methane | atom count
Result
Determine the number of atoms in: methane (CH_4) Plan: • Use the summation: N_atoms = sum_i N_i. • Determine the values of N_i. • Compute the number of atoms. Use the chemical formula, CH_4, to count the number of atoms, N_i, for each element: | N_i C | 1 H | 4 Sum the N_i terms to compute the number of atoms, N_atoms: Answer: | | N_atoms = 1 + 4 = 5
Particle counts
atom count | 5 proton count | 10 p (protons) electron count | 10 e (electrons) net ionic charge | 0