Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas are a shorthand way to communicate the identity of a compound.

The rules for writing symbols and formulas can make a big difference:

CO vs Co

CO = 1 atom of carbon + 1 atom of oxygen, this is a molecule of carbon monoxide

Co = 1 atoms of Cobalt, this is an element

CO vs CO2

CO = 1 atom of carbon + 1 atom of oxygen, this is a molecule of carbon monoxide

CO2 = 1 atom of carbon + 2 atoms of oxygen, forming a molecule of carbon dioxide

**While CO and CO2 are organic compounds that contain carbon and oxygen, they are very different. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases we exhale. By incorrectly writing a subscript, the formula represents a very different substance.

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas are a shorthand way to communicate the identity of a compound.

The rules for writing symbols and formulas can make a big difference:

CO vs Co

CO = 1 atom of carbon + 1 atom of oxygen, this is a molecule of carbon monoxide

Co = 1 atoms of Cobalt, this is an element

CO vs CO2

CO = 1 atom of carbon + 1 atom of oxygen, this is a molecule of carbon monoxide

CO2 = 1 atom of carbon + 2 atoms of oxygen, forming a molecule of carbon dioxide

**While CO and CO2 are organic compounds that contain carbon and oxygen, they are very different. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases we exhale. By incorrectly writing a subscript, the formula represents a very different substance.

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas are a shorthand way to communicate the identity of a compound.

The rules for writing symbols and formulas can make a big difference:

CO vs Co

CO = 1 atom of carbon + 1 atom of oxygen, this is a molecule of carbon monoxide

Co = 1 atoms of Cobalt, this is an element

CO vs CO2

CO = 1 atom of carbon + 1 atom of oxygen, this is a molecule of carbon monoxide

CO2 = 1 atom of carbon + 2 atoms of oxygen, forming a molecule of carbon dioxide

**While CO and CO2 are organic compounds that contain carbon and oxygen, they are very different. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases we exhale. By incorrectly writing a subscript, the formula represents a very different substance.