COUNTING ATOMS

What is a CHEMICAL
FORMULA?
A combination of symbols
that represent the elements
in a compound
Example: sugar = C12H22O11
Coefficient: Tells  Symbol: Tells 
how many  you what 
molecules you have elements are 
in the 
5 C12H22O11 molecule

Subscript: Tells you how many atoms 
of an element are in the molecule
How many atoms do you have 
of each element?
5 C12H22O11
C (Carbon) = 60 atoms
H (Hydrogen) = 110 atoms
O (Oxygen ) = 55 atoms
Total Atoms = 225
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Na2CO3

Mg(NO3)2
The subscript that follows the
parentheses applies to every
element within the parentheses
Chemical Equations
A chemical equations is a shorter,
easier way to show a chemical
reaction
The materials you start with are
called the reactants
The materials you end with are
called the products
The arrow ( ) reads as
“yields”
Example Chemical Equation
H2 + Cl2 ---> 2 HCl

REACTANTS PRODUCT