Final answer:
To count the number of each atom in 4M (ClO₃)₂, we multiply the subscripts of the atoms in the chemical formula by the coefficient. This gives us 4 metal atoms, 8 chlorine atoms, and 24 oxygen atoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to count the number of each atom in the compound 4M (ClO₃)₂. In this compound, M represents a metal atom. To determine the number of each atom, we must look at the subscripts and coefficients.
For M, the subscript is assumed to be 1 (since it's unwritten), and the compound has a coefficient of 4, which means there are 4 metal atoms in total. Each ClO₃ group has 1 chlorine atom (Cl) and 3 oxygen atoms (O), and the subscript 2 indicates there are 2 of these groups per metal atom. Multiplying by the coefficient 4, we get a total of 8 chlorine atoms and 24 oxygen atoms in the whole compound 4M (ClO₃)₂.