Mastering Chemical Formulas: Decoding Subscripts and Coefficients

The video tutorial explains how to read chemical formulas, focusing on subscripts and coefficients. It describes how subscripts apply to specific elements or groups within parentheses, while coefficients indicate the number of molecules. The tutorial provides examples to illustrate how to calculate the number of atoms in a molecule, emphasizing the importance of understanding implied numbers when no subscript is present. It also covers more complex calculations involving parentheses and multiple elements.

What is the term used for the small numbers in chemical formulas?

• Prefixes

• Exponents

• Subscripts

• Coefficients

How does a coefficient affect the number of molecules?

• It divides the molecule.

• It only affects the first element.

• It adds to the molecule.

• It multiplies the entire molecule.

If a molecule has no subscript, what number is understood to be present?

• One

• Three

• Two

• Zero

In a molecule without parentheses, how many oxygen atoms are in CO3?

• Three

• One

• Four

• Two

How many calcium atoms are in CaCO3?

• Three

• Two

• Four

• One

What does a subscript outside parentheses indicate?

• It multiplies the elements inside the parentheses.

• It only affects the first element.

• It divides the elements inside the parentheses.

• It applies to the entire molecule.

In the formula 2(NO3)2, how many nitrogen atoms are present?

• Six

• Four

• Two

• Eight