Molecular formula

The number of atoms of the combining elements in a molecule is always

a whole number.

We know that water is a compound. There are two atoms of hydrogen

and one atom of oxygen in a water molecule. Therefore, the molecular
formula of water is H2O. Another well-known example is common salt.
In a molecule of common salt there is one atom of sodium and one atom
of chlorine, therefore the molecular formula of common salt is NaCl. A
molecule of sugar has twelve atoms of carbon, twenty two atoms of
hydrogen and eleven atoms of oxygen; therefore the molecular formula
of sugar is C twelve H twenty two O eleven.
So, if we know the number of atoms of the constituent elements of the
molecules then it is possible to write its molecular formula. The name
and molecular formula of some compounds are given in Table.
Carbon monoxide CO
Carbon dioxide CO2
Ammonia NH3
Water H2O
Common salt NaCl
Sugar C twelve H twenty two O eleven

Also, from the molecular formula one can get an idea about the number
of atoms of each constituent element of which it is made.

For example, from the molecular formula NaCl of sodium chloride, the
following information is obtained:
(1) Which elements combine to form a molecule of sodium
chloride? They are Na and Cl
(2) What is the number of sodium and chlorine atoms in a
molecule of sodium chloride? That is 1 and 1.

To indicate the number of molecules of a compound, the number of

molecules is written before the molecular formula of the compound.

For example two NaCl indicates two molecules of sodium chloride, 3H2O
indicates three molecules of water.

In the process, the elements lose their individual element

characteristics and the molecule formed by them has completely
different characteristics. For example, water is tasteless, common salt is
salty in taste and sugar is sweet, but their constituent elements do not
show any of these properties or characteristics.