Question

What do the numbers 3 and 4 refer to in 3NH4

Answer 1

3 nitrogen atoms and 12 hydrogen atoms. 

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

When we place a number before the chemical formula of a compound then it represents the number of molecules of that compound.

For example, in
`3NH_(4)` the number 3 represents that there are 3 molecules of ammonia.

Whereas a subscript in a chemical formula tells us the number of atoms of an element present in the compound.

For example, in
`3NH_(4)` the number 4 is a subscript and it represents that there are 4 atoms of hydrogen are present.

Thus, we can conclude that the numbers 3 and 4 refer to the number of molecules and number of hydrogen atoms in
`3NH_(4)`.