Barium sulfate, BaSO4, is a white crystalline solid that is insoluble in water. It is used by doctors to diagnose problems with the digestive system. Barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2, is also a white crystalline solid and is used in waste water treatment. How many more oxygen atoms are represented in the formula for barium sulfate than in the formula for barium hydroxide?

The number of oxygen atom represented in the formula for barium sulfate than in the formula for barium hydroxide is 2 atoms

The molecular formula of barium sulfate = BaSO₄

The molecular formula of barium hydroxide = Ba(OH)₂

The number of oxygen atoms in BaSO₄ = 4 atoms

The number of oxygen atoms in Ba(OH)₂ = 2 atoms

Differences in atoms of oxygen = 4 – 2 = 2 atoms

From the above illustration, we can see that there are 2 more atoms of oxygen in barium sulfate, BaSO₄ than in barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)₂

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2

Explanation:

Ba(OH)2 contains two oxygen atoms

BaSO4 contains four oxygen atoms.

This means that barium sulphate contains two more oxygen atoms than barium hydroxide in its formula. This is clearly seen from the two formulae shown above.