Question

How many atoms are in 0.40 mol of sulfur?

Answer 1

In `1` `mol` of stuff, there are `6.022xx10^23` individual items of that stuff.

Explanation:

Now sulfur is non-molecular. Given the context of the question, I think I would be perfectly justified in giving the answer as:

`N_A` `"sulfur atoms"` `xx` `0.40*mol` `=` `6.022xx10^23*cancel(mol^-1)xx0.40*cancel(mol)` `=` `2.4xx10^23` individual sulfur atoms.

Had the question asked,

`"how many atoms are in 0.40 mol oxygen?"`,

I would have had to answer `4.8xx10^23` individual oxygen atoms, because it would contain the unstated assumption that oxygen is a binuclear gas, `O_2` (note that all the elemental gases, save the Noble Gases, are binuclear). Do you see the distinction I am trying to make?