Question

Classify each of the following on the basis of their atomicity. 

(a) F₂           (b) NO₂      (c) N₂O      (d) C₂H₆      (e) P₄      (f) H₂O₂ 

(g) P₄ O₁₀  (H) O₃        (i) HCl         (j) CH₄         (k) He      (l) Ag

Answer 1

(a) 2       (b) 3      (c) 3      (d) 8      (e) 4      (f) 4     (g) 14    (h) 3 

(i) 2        (j) 5       

(k) 1 (Noble gases do not combine and exist as monoatomic gases) 

(l) Polyatomic. It is difficult to talk about the atomicity of metals as any measurable quantity will contain millions of atoms bound by metallic bond (about which you would learn later).