chemical formulas

What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?

A molecule is more than one atom combined, but a compound has to have atoms from different elements combined.

What is the difference between an element and a compound?

An element is a pure substance made of all the same type of atoms; a compound is made of atoms of different elements.

How can we determine the number of elements in a chemical formula?

Count the number of different chemical symbols (capital letters)

How can we determine the number of atoms of each element in a chemical formula?

Look at the subscript for each element symbol

What is the difference between a substance's common name and a chemical name?

The common name is what you use in everyday language but the chemical name gives clues to the elements and quantities that its composed of

How do the properties differ between a compound and the elements that it is composed of?

The properties of a compound can be different than each of the elements.

What is the purpose of a subscript in a chemical formula?

To indicate the number of atoms for each element in the formula

What does a chemical formula represent?

the types of elements in the compound and the number of atoms of each element in the compound