Chemical Formulas
What is a chemical symbol? Give an example.
A chemical symbol is one or two letters used to
represent an element - Na; H; O; C, etc.
In a chemical formula such as NaHCO3, how
can we tell one element from another?
Every element symbol begins with a capital
letter.
What is a subscript? Give an example.
A subscript is a small number to the right of a
symbol that is written below the normal line of
letters to show how many atoms of an element
are present in a substance. No subscript means
there is only one atom present. H2O two atoms
of hydrogen; one atom of oxygen.
What is a coefficient? Give an example.
A coefficient is a number written in front of a
chemical formula to show how many molecules
of that substance are present - 4H2O; four
molecules of H2O are present.
What is a chemical formula? Give an
example.
A chemical formula is a combination of symbols
and numbers that represent the number and
types of elements (atoms) present in compound.
NaHCO3; There is one atom of sodium, one
atom of hydrogen, one atom of carbon, and
three atoms of oxygen.
What is a chemical equation? Give an
example.
A chemical equation uses chemical formulas
and symbols to represent what happens in a
chemical reaction.
MgSO4 + 2NH4OH
(NH4)2SO4 + Mg(OH)2
When the reactants are mixed together, they
yield (produce) the product which is a new
substance with different properties from the
reactants.