1. Identify the Elements:
* Sodium (Na)
* Sulfur (S)
* Oxygen (O)
2. Count the Atoms per Molecule:
* Sodium (Na): 2 atoms per molecule
* Sulfur (S): 1 atom per molecule
* Oxygen (O): 4 atoms per molecule
3. Calculate the Total Atoms in One Molecule:
* Total atoms in Na₂SO₄ = 2 (Na) + 1 (S) + 4 (O) = 7 atoms
4. Account for the Coefficient:
* The coefficient "2" in front of Na₂SO₄ means there are two molecules of this compound.
* Total atoms in 2Na₂SO₄ = 7 atoms/molecule * 2 molecules = 14 atoms
Therefore, there are 14 atoms in 2Na₂SO₄.