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In the compound La2(CO3)3 there are ___ atoms making up the molecule.

(A) 8
(B) 9
(C) 10
(D) 11

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The compound La2(CO3)3 consists of a total of 14 atoms (2 lanthanum atoms and 3 carbonate groups, each containing 4 atoms). The choices provided do not match the correct total number of atoms in the molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject in question, La2(CO3)3, is a chemical compound that includes lanthanum and carbonate ions. To determine the total number of atoms in the compound, we must count the atoms of each element. There are 2 lanthanum (La) atoms, 3 carbonate (CO3) groups. Each carbonate group consists of 1 carbon (C) atom and 3 oxygen (O) atoms. Therefore, in each carbonate group, there are 4 atoms (1 C + 3 O). Multiplying this by 3 (because there are 3 carbonate groups) we get 12 atoms from carbonate groups. Adding the 2 lanthanum atoms gives us a total of 14 atoms in the molecule. Hence, the options provided in the question do not include the correct number of atoms in the La2(CO3)3 molecule.

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