Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A Chemical Formula is a simple way to show the number and type of atoms in a chemical.
About Chemical Formulae
- Chemical Formulae show which elements are in a molecule.
- The number of each element in a molecule is shown with a number written just after and lower than the element.
Examples
| H2O | CO2 | CH4 | CH5OH |
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| Water has 2 Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen atom. | Carbon Dioxide has 1 Carbon atom and 2 Oxygen atoms. | Methane has 1 Carbon atom and 4 Hydrogen atoms. | Ethanol has 2 Carbon atoms, 6 Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen atom. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A Chemical Formula is a way to show the numbers of atoms of each element in a chemical.
About Chemical Formulae
- Chemical Formulae show which elements are in a molecule.
- The number of each element in a molecule is shown with subscript after that element.
- MgBr2: Magnesium Bromide with one Magnesium atom and two Bromine atoms.
- CO2: Carbon Dioxide with one Carbon atom and two Oxygen atoms.
- Li2O: Lithium Oxide with two Lithium atoms and one Oxygen atom.