Chapter 3.2, Problem 5RQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The information given in a chemical formula needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction: Every matter is made of chemicals; the importance of chemistry is that it's the study of everything. Chemistry is all about how something interacts to affect the structure, composition, as well as knowing properties of substances.

Answer to Problem 5RQ

Chemical formula of any substance gives information about that substance such as number of atoms, molecules etc.

Explanation of Solution

A notation to describe a substance that uses an atomic symbol and a numerical subscript to indicate the relative numbers of atoms (different elements in the substance) is defined as a chemical formula. In other words, chemical formulas are used to express chemical composition of substance. Chemical formula of any substance gives following information:

• The elements that are included.
• The ratio they occur in the compound.
• A number written in subscript represents the number of atoms/ molecules of that element.

Conclusion

Chemical formula is a short hand way to use chemical symbol as well as numbers to represent a substance.