Chemical Formulas

In chemical reactions, the atoms in molecules separate and recombine to form new compounds.

To tell which and how many elements are in compounds, we use chemical formulas.

Chemical formulas are a mix of element symbols and subscripts.

When you look at a chemical formula, it is very similar to an XYZ formula in Math class.

Na₂SO₄

Na₂ = 2 Sodium Atoms

S = 1 Sulfur Atom (when there is no subscript, it is understood to be 1).

O₄ = 4 Oxygen Atoms

Chemical Formulas are used as a part of Chemical Equations to visualize elements in mathematical terms.

When working with a chemical equation, you can use the chemical formulas to determine what the resulting compounds will be.