Here's how it works:
* Elements: Each element in the compound is represented by its chemical symbol (e.g., H for hydrogen, O for oxygen, C for carbon).
* Subscripts: Numbers written as subscripts after the chemical symbol indicate the number of atoms of that element in the molecule. If no subscript is written, it is understood to be 1.
Examples:
* Water (H₂O): This formula shows that a water molecule contains 2 hydrogen atoms (H₂) and 1 oxygen atom (O).
* Carbon dioxide (CO₂): This formula shows that a carbon dioxide molecule contains 1 carbon atom (C) and 2 oxygen atoms (O₂).
* Methane (CH₄): This formula shows that a methane molecule contains 1 carbon atom (C) and 4 hydrogen atoms (H₄).
Important Note: The chemical formula does not show the arrangement of atoms in the molecule, only the types and quantities. For that information, you would need to look at the molecule's structural formula.
