Chemical Formulas

Introduction to Chemical Formulas

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Chemical Formulas - Chemistry and Compounds
Chemistry is the science of chemical elements and compounds and how these things work together - for more information see the Beginners Guide to Periodic Chemistry. A chemical element contains only one type of atom. If a substance contains more than one type of atom, it is a compound. A compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of 2 or more different elements that can be separated into simpler substances by Chemical Reactions.

 

Chemical Formulas - Chemical Substances
Chemical substances exist as solids, liquids or gasses (States of Matter). Most elements are solids, only 11 are gases and 2 are liquids. Substances may change between these phases of matter with changes in temperature or pressure. A common example of a chemical substance is pure water.

Chemical Formulas - Chemical Reactions
Chemical reactions convert one chemical substance into another. A common example of a chemical substance is pure water. Changes in temperature can change from a liquid (water) to a solid (ice) to a gas (water vapour / steam).

Chemical Formulas

Chemical Formulas - What is a Chemical Formula?
What is a Chemical Formula? A formula in chemistry is a type of shorthand for representing the elements in a compound. Element Symbols are included on the Periodic Table. Symbols from the periodic table are used for the individual elements. e.g. O for oxygen, H for hydrogen, C for carbon, N for nitrogen, Ca for calcium and Na for Sodium. Substances that have two or more atoms bonded together, and therefore more than one element, are called compounds. See Examples of Compounds.

Examples of Chemical Formulas
Examples of chemical formulas and their meanings are explained in Examples of Chemical Formula and Equations. This page provides examples detailing how to write a formula or equation together with examples and the use of subscripts.

Chemical Formulas - Subscripts
Chemical formulas shows the symbols of the elements in the compound and the ratio of the elements to one another. If a substance contains more than one atom of a particular element, this quantity is indicated in chemical formulas using a subscript number after the chemical symbol.

Chemical Formulas - Examples of the use of Subscripts
The subscript refers only to the element it immediately follows. For example in formulas and equations, the chemical formula for water is H2O which indicates that 2 atoms of Hydrogen combines with 1 atom of oxygen. The chemical formula for sodium chloride is NaCl indicating that one atom of sodium combines with one atom of chlorine in a one-to-one ratio. Subscripts are added, following the element symbol, to indicate that the number of atoms of that element in the compound if it is greater than one. For example, the equation for magnesium bromide MgBr2 which indicates that one magnesium atom combines with two bromine atoms.

Common Chemical Formulas List
The following list shows some of the most common formulas for both elements and compounds.

List of Common Formulas

What is the Chemical Formula for Sodium

Na

Sodium
What is the Chemical Formula for Water

H2O

Water
What is the Chemical Formula for Glucose

C6H12O6

Glucose
What is the Chemical Formula for AlcoholC2H6OAlcohol
What is the Chemical Formula for Sulfate Group

CaSO4

Sulfate Group
What is the Chemical Formula for Hydrogen Sulfide

H2S

Hydrogen Sulfide
What is the Chemical Formula for Salt

 NaCl

Salt
What is the Chemical Formula for Oxygen molecule

O2

Oxygen

What is the Chemical Formula for Ethanol

C2H6O

Ethanol
What is the Chemical Formula for VinegarC2H4O2Vinegar
What is the Chemical Formula for Ammonia

NH3

Ammonia
What is the Chemical Formula for Magnesium

Mg

Magnesium
What is the Chemical Formula for Acetic Acid

C2H4O2

Acetic Acid
What is the Chemical Formula for Butane

C4H10

Butane
What is the Chemical Formula for AcetateCH3CO2Acetate
What is the Chemical Formula for NitrateNO3Nitrate
What is the Chemical Formula for Copper

Cu

Copper
What is the Chemical Formula for Nitrogen molecule

N2

Nitrogen
What is the Chemical Formula for Carbon Dioxide

CO2

Carbon Dioxide

What is the Chemical for Sulfuric Acid

H2SO4

Sulfuric Acid

What is the Chemical Formula for Methane

CH4

Methane

What is the Chemical Formula for Sucrose

C12H22O11

Sucrose

What is the Chemical Formula for Propane

C3H8

Propane

What is the Chemical Formula for Baking Soda

NaHCO3

Baking Soda

What is the Chemical Formula for Fluoride

F

Fluoride

What is the Formula for Fluorine Molecule

F2

Fluoride

What is the Formula for Hydrogen Peroxide

H2O2

Peroxide

Chemical Formula for Caffeine

C8H10N4O2

Caffeine

What is the Formula for Sodium Chloride (Salt)

NaCl

Sodium Chloride

What is the Chemical Formula for Aspirin

C9H8O4

Aspirin

What is the Formula for Hydrochloric Acid

HCl

Hydrochloric Acid

What is the Chemical Formula for Zinc Nitrate

Zn(NO3)2

Zinc
What is the Chemical Formula for Carbon Monoxide

CO

Carbon Monoxide

What is the Formula for Sodium Hydroxide

NaOH

Sodium Hydroxide

What is the Formula for Cyanide (Sodium Cyanide)

NaCN

Sodium Cyanide

What is the for Cyanide (Calcium Cyanide)

Ca(CN)2

Calcium Cyanide

What is the Formula for Gold

Au

Gold
What is the Chemical Formula for Iodine

I

Iodine

What is the Chemical Formula for Tin

Sn

Tin
What is the Chemical Formula for Benzene

C6H6

Benzene

What is the Formula for Hydrogen Sulfide

H2S

Hydrogen Sulfide

Chemical Formula for Acetone

CH3COCH3

Acetone

Chemical Formula for Phosphoric Acid

H3PO4

Phosphoric Acid

What is the Chemical Formula for Pentane

C5H12

Pentane

What is the Chemical Formula for Methanol

CH3OH

Methanol

What is the Chemical Formula for Hydrobromic Acid

HBr

Hydrobromic Acid

Chemical Formula for Carbonic Acid

H2CO3

Carbonic Acid

What is the Chemical Formula for Titanium

Ti

Titanium

What is the Chemical Formula for Sodium Hypochlorite

NaClO

Sodium Hypochlorite

What is the Chemical Formula for Ethane

C2H6

Ethane

What is the Chemical Formula for Ammonium Sulfate

(NH4)2SO4

Ammonium Sulfate

What is the Chemical Formula for Octane

C8H18

Octane

What is the Chemical Formula for Copper Sulfate

CuSO4

Copper Sulfate

What is the Chemical Formula for Cholesterol

C27H46O

Cholesterol

What is the Formula for Benzoic Acid

C7H6O2

Benzoic Acid

What is the Formula for Sulfurous Acid

H2SO3

Sulfurous Acid

What is the Formula for Galactose

C6H12O6

Galactose

What is the Formula for Ascorbic Acid

C6H8O6

Ascorbic Acid

What is the Formula for Dry Ice

CO2

Dry Ice

What is the Formula for Sodium Nitrate

NaNO3

Sodium Nitrate

What is the Formula for Calcium Oxide (Quicklime)

CaO

Calcium Oxide

What is the Formula for Iodic Acid

HIO3

Iodic Acid

What is the Formula for Lactic Acid

C3H6O3

Lactic Acid

What is the Formula for Magnesium Bromide

MgBr2

Lactic Acid

What is the Formula for Water Vapor

H2O

Water Vapor

What is the Formula for Oxide

No Formula

Oxide
What is the Formula for Carbon

C

Carbon
What is the Formula for Hydrogen

H

Hydrogen
What is the Formula for SugarCnH2nOnSugar
What is the Formula for Sulfate

O4S2-

Sulfate
What is the Formula for Nitrous Oxide

N2O

Nitrogen
Formula for Citric Acid

C6H8O7

Citric Acid
Formula for Octane

C8H18

Octane
Formula for Camphor

C10H16O

Camphor

Formula for Silver OxideAgISilver Oxide
Formula for Arsenic Trioxide

As4O3

Arsenic Trioxide

Formula for Gold Trioxide

Au2O3

Gold Trioxide

Formula for Gold Sulfide

Au2S

Gold Sulfide

Formula for BromineBr2Bromine
Formula for Aluminium foil

Al2O3

Aluminium foil

What is the Chemical Formula for Acid Rain
SO2 (Sulphur dioxide) + NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) + H2O (Water) = Acid rain

Acid Rain

List of Common Formulas

Chemical Formulas
The above list provides details the most common formulas and equations. Click on the link to an element to discover additional facts and information about the element. 

 

Chemical Formulas

  • Homework help to learn about compounds
  • Reactions, experiments, formulas
  • Learn about the use of subscripts in formulas
  • Useful facts and info for all chemistry students
  • Examples of Formulas
  • Chemical Formulas and equations
  • Meanings of Formulas and equations
  • Common Formulas
  • Common Equations and Formulas
  • Meaning of Formulas

Chemical Formulas

Formulas on the Periodic Table? The most important chemistry reference there is, and the cornerstone of science since 1869

 

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