Subscripts In A Chemical Formula

Question 1

Where do you find subscripts in a chemical formula?

Answer 1

Subscripts are small numbers written on the bottom right of an element.

Question 2

What is the meaning of subscripts?

Answer 2

They indicate how many of each type of atom are present.

Question 3

What does it mean when no subscript is shown?

Answer 3

When there’s no subscript, there’s an imaginary number 1 beside the atom as a subscript.

Question 4

What are superscripts?

Answer 4

They have a charge on ions like

Ca2+, Cl-

Question 5

How would you read these molecules:

1. H2O
2. CO2
3. C2932H4724N828O840S8Fe4. CH4
4. NH4OH
5. LiOH
6. H2SO4

Answer 5

1. 2 H atoms and 1 O atom
2. 1 C atom and 2 O atoms

3. 2932 carbon atoms
4724 hydrogen atoms
828 nitrogen atoms
840 oxygen atoms
8 sulfur atoms
4 iron atoms

4. 1 C atom, 4 H atoms
5. 1 N atom, 5 H atoms , 1 O
6. 1 Li atom, 1 O atom, 1 H atom
7. 2 H atoms, 1 S atom, 4 O atom