Here's how to break down what a chemical formula tells you:
* Elements: The symbols in the formula represent the elements present in the compound. For example, H₂O contains the elements hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
* Subscripts: The numbers written as subscripts (like the "2" in H₂O) indicate the number of atoms of each element in one molecule of the compound. In H₂O, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
* Coefficients: Numbers written before the formula (not subscripts) indicate the number of molecules of the compound. For example, 2H₂O represents two molecules of water.
Example:
Let's look at the compound glucose, which has the formula C₆H₁₂O₆.
* Elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O)
* Number of atoms: 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms per molecule.
* Total number of elements: There are 3 different elements in glucose.
To determine the *number* of elements in a compound, you need to count the number of different symbols in its formula.
