Here's a breakdown:
* Example: H₂O (water)
* The subscript "2" after the "H" tells us there are two hydrogen atoms in a water molecule.
* The absence of a subscript after the "O" implies there is one oxygen atom in the molecule.
* Another Example: CaCl₂ (calcium chloride)
* The subscript "2" after the "Cl" indicates that there are two chlorine atoms in each formula unit of calcium chloride.
Key Points:
* Subscripts only apply to the element they immediately follow.
* If there is no subscript, it is understood to be "1".
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have further questions!
