Answer to Question #84155 in General Chemistry for Stephan

Question

How many molecules are in 6Mg3(PO4)2?
How many atoms of Mg are in 6Mg3(PO4)2?
How many atoms of O are in 6Mg3(PO4)2?

Answer 1

Answer

1) Mg₃(PO₄)₂ is not a molecule but a formala unit. But sometimes for simplicity chemists consider formular unit as a molecule.

There are 6 molecules of Mg₃(PO₄)₂ in 6 Mg₃(PO₄)₂

2) There are 6*3 = 18 atoms of Mg in 6 Mg₃(PO₄)₂

3) There are 6*2*4 = 48 atoms of oxygen in 6 Mg₃(PO₄)₂