Chapter 16, Problem 111A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The number of atoms present in each element of calcium permanganate that has four formula units.

Concept introduction: Formula units are a type of empirical formula that can explain the percentage of each element present in a particular compound. The lowest whole number ratio of that particular element is picked.

Answer to Problem 111A

The number of atoms in the four formula units of calcium permanganate is $\text{Ca}=4$ , $\text{Mn}=8$ , and $\text{O}=32$ .

Explanation of Solution

The chemical formula of the given compound, calcium permanganate is $\text{Ca}{\left({\text{MnO}}_{\text{4}}\right)}_2$ . This means that one calcium atom two manganate ions, ${\text{MnO}}_{\text{4}}$ are present.

One formula unit of $\text{Ca}{\left({\text{MnO}}_{\text{4}}\right)}_2$ has one calcium, eight oxygen, and two manganese atoms.

The multiplication of four to each of the numbers of atoms gives the number of atoms.

For calcium,

  $\text{1Ca}\times \text{4}=4$

For Manganese,

  $\text{2Mn}\times \text{4}=8$

For Oxygen,

  $\text{8O}\times \text{4}=32$ O atoms