Summary

Juan Sanjur
11°P
Chapter 7 Lesson 3: Using Chemical Formulas

One of the most fundamental concepts that you will encounter is the chemical formula. A
chemical formula is a shorthand notation that describes the composition of a chemical
compound. It tells you the types and numbers of atoms that make up a compound, and can be
used to predict its properties and behavior.

The most common type of chemical formula is the molecular formula, which tells you the exact
number of each type of atom in a molecule. For example, the molecular formula for water is
H2O, which means that it contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Molecular
formulas can be used to calculate the molecular weight of a compound, which is the sum of the
atomic weights of all the atoms in the molecule.

Another type of chemical formula is the empirical formula, which tells you the simplest whole-
number ratio of atoms in a compound. For example, the empirical formula for glucose is CH2O,
which means that there are twice as many hydrogen atoms as carbon atoms and one oxygen
atom for every carbon atom. Empirical formulas are useful when the molecular formula is
unknown, or when comparing the ratios of atoms in different compounds.

In addition to molecular and empirical formulas, there are also structural formulas, which show
the arrangement of atoms in a molecule. These can be useful for understanding the three-
dimensional shape of molecules and how they interact with other molecules.

Chemical formulas can also be used to predict the properties and behavior of compounds. For
example, the molecular formula for methane (CH4) tells us that it is a gas at room temperature
and pressure, is highly flammable, and is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
By contrast, the molecular formula for water (H2O) tells us that it is a liquid at room
temperature and pressure, is essential for life, and has unique properties such as surface tension
and high heat capacity.

Finally, chemical formulas can be used to balance chemical equations, which describe the
reactants and products in a chemical reaction.