What is a chemical formula?
Q: What is a chemical formula?
A: A chemical formula is a representation used by chemists to describe molecules. It describes what atoms are present in molecules, how many of each type, and sometimes how the atoms are linked or positioned in space.
Q: What information does a chemical formula provide?
A: A chemical formula provides information on the number and type of atoms present in a molecule. It can also show how the atoms are linked or arranged in space.
Q: What are chemical symbols?
A: Chemical symbols are abbreviations for each chemical element. They are usually one or two letters long and represent the type of atom in the molecule.
Q: How is the number of atoms of each type represented in a chemical formula?
A: The number of atoms of each type is represented using subscripts in a chemical formula. The subscript follows the chemical symbol and indicates the number of atoms of that element in the molecule.
Q: Can a chemical formula show how atoms are linked in a molecule?
A: Yes, a chemical formula can show how atoms are linked in a molecule. This is often represented using lines or parentheses to indicate the arrangement of atoms in the molecule.
Q: Who developed the system for writing chemical formulas?
A: The system for writing chemical formulas was developed by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist who lived in the 19th century.
Q: What is the chemical formula for glucose?
A: The chemical formula for glucose is C6H12O6, which means it has six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.
