Chemical Symbols and Formulas
Chemical Symbols and Formulas
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These are notes on chemical bonding
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2025/2026
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Chemical Symbols and Formulas
Chemical Symbols and Formulas
Chemical Symbols
Chemical Symbols
All
All
elements
elements
in the
in the
Periodic Table
Periodic Table
have symbols that
have symbols that
are
are recognized
recognized world wide
world wide .
It does not matter which
It does not matter which
country
country
you are in or the
you are in or the
language
language you speak.
you speak.
Example:
Example: The element
The element Iron
Iron is always identified by
is always identified by
Fe
Fe ” and
” and Oxygen
Oxygen is “
is “ O
O
The names are not always the same but the symbols
The names are not always the same but the symbols
are. “
are. “
Fe
Fe
” is
” is
iron in Canada
iron in Canada
,
fer in France
fer in France
and
and
fier in
fier in
Romania
Romania .
Sodium
Sodium comes from the word sodanum, a headache
comes from the word sodanum, a headache
remedy, and it’s symbol (
remedy, and it’s symbol ( Na
Na ) comes from the Latin
) comes from the Latin
word
word
Na
Na
trium.
trium.
Chemical Formulas
Chemical Formulas
A
A
chemical formula
chemical formula
is the combination of symbols that
is the combination of symbols that
represent a particular compound.
represent a particular compound.
The chemical formula indicates which elements are
The chemical formula indicates which elements are
present in the compound and in what proportions.
present in the compound and in what proportions.
Ex. 1:
Ex. 1: Water molecule
Water molecule
H
H
2
2
O
O
2 atoms of hydrogen, 1 atom of oxygen
2 atoms of hydrogen, 1 atom of oxygen
Ex. 2:
Ex. 2: Iron Oxide molecule
Iron Oxide molecule
Fe
Fe
22
O
O
33
2 atoms of iron, 3 atom of oxygen
2 atoms of iron, 3 atom of oxygen
Chemical Formulas
Chemical Formulas
NOTES
NOTES :
:
- Each
- Each symbol
symbol in a
in a formula
formula represents an
represents an element.
element.
- If only
- If only one atom
one atom of an element is present in the compound,
of an element is present in the compound, no
no
subscript is used.
subscript is used.
- If
- If more than one atom
more than one atom of an element is used, then the symbol
of an element is used, then the symbol
is
is followed by a number indicating how many atoms are used
followed by a number indicating how many atoms are used .
.
This is called the
This is called the subscript.
subscript.