What is the term for a combination of symbols that shows the ratio of elements in a compound?

• A. Subscript
• B. Crystal
• C. Chemical Formula
• D. Molecule

Answer: (C)

A chemical formula is the term for a combination of symbols that shows the ratio of elements in a compound. It uses element symbols and subscripts to indicate how many atoms of each element are present, giving the exact composition of the compound. For example, in H2O there are two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom. A subscript is just the small number after an element symbol that tells how many atoms of that element are in the molecule, but it doesn’t name the whole compound by itself. A crystal refers to the orderly repeating structure of a solid, not the specific ratio of elements in a compound. A molecule is a group of bonded atoms, which relates to structure, not the notation that conveys the element ratios.