Chemical Symbols and Formulas

Simple Sugar

C6H12O6

Carbondioxide

CO2

Water

H2O

Sodium

Na

Table Salt

NaCl

oxygen gas

O2

Coefficient

a number placed in front of a symbol or formula in a chemical equation to show the number of molecules involved as reactants or products.

Chemical symbol

a one, two, or three letter representation of an element; the first letter is always capitalized.

Law of Conservation of Matter

a scientific law which states that mass/matter cannot be created or destroyed; in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.

Products

new substances formed in a chemical reaction.

Chemical formula

represents a compound; contains element symbols and the ratio of atoms.

Reactants

substances that are broken apart or combined in a chemical reaction. Always on the left side of the arrow

Balanced equation

supports Law of Conservation of Matter by showing that the type and number of reactant atoms is equal to those in the product(s).

Subscript

the number written at the bottom right corner of an element, representing the number of atoms

Yields ( )

to become; symbol between the reactants and products in a chemical equation.