Counting elements and atoms

Front

What is an element?

Back

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances and is made of only one type of atom.

Front

How do you identify a different element in a chemical formula?

Back

By looking for a capital letter.

Front

What does a lowercase letter in a chemical formula indicate?

Back

It indicates that the letter is part of the same element.

Front

What are subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Numbers written below and to the right of an element symbol that indicate how many atoms of that element are present.

Front

What are coefficients in a chemical formula?

Back

Numbers placed in front of a chemical formula that indicate how many molecules are present.

Front

How many atoms are in H2O?

Back

3 (2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom).

Front

How many atoms are in H2O2?

Back

4 (2 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms).

Front

What does the coefficient tell you in a chemical formula?

Back

It tells you how many molecules there are, so you multiply the number of atoms by the coefficient.

Front

How many atoms are in 2H2O?

Back

6 (2 molecules of H2O, each with 3 atoms).

Front

How many elements are in C6H12O6?

Back

3 (Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen).