Barium sulfate, BaSO4, is a white crystalline solid that is insoluble in water. It is used by doctors to diagnose problems with the digestive system. Barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2, is also a white crystalline solid and is used in wastewater and treatment. How many more oxygen atoms are represented in the formula for barium sulfate than in the formula for barium hydroxide?
To determine how many more oxygen atoms are represented in the formula for barium sulfate (BaSO4) than in the formula for barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2), we need to count the number of oxygen atoms in each compound.
In the formula for barium sulfate (BaSO4), there are four oxygen atoms represented by the subscript "4" next to the sulfur (S) atom.
In the formula for barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2), there are two oxygen atoms represented by the subscript "2" next to the hydroxide (OH) group.
So, to find the difference, we subtract the number of oxygen atoms in the barium hydroxide formula from the number of oxygen atoms in the barium sulfate formula:
4 (oxygen atoms in BaSO4) - 2 (oxygen atoms in Ba(OH)2) = 2
Therefore, there are two more oxygen atoms represented in the formula for barium sulfate than in the formula for barium hydroxide.
In the formula for barium sulfate (BaSO4), there are two oxygen atoms represented. This is because there is one oxygen atom in the sulfate (SO4) group, and the formula has one sulfate group.
In the formula for barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2), there are two oxygen atoms represented. This is because there are two hydroxide (OH) groups, and each hydroxide group contains one oxygen atom.
To calculate the difference in the number of oxygen atoms between the two compounds, we subtract the number of oxygen atoms in barium hydroxide from the number of oxygen atoms in barium sulfate.
Number of oxygen atoms in barium sulfate - Number of oxygen atoms in barium hydroxide
= 2 - 2
= 0
Therefore, there are no more oxygen atoms represented in the formula for barium sulfate than in the formula for barium hydroxide.
BaSO4 has 4 oxygen atoms per mol BaSO4.
Ba(OH)2 has 2 oxygen atoms per mol Ba(OH)2.