Question

answer the following questions by filling in the boxes:
what does the coefficient or number in front of a chemical formula represent?
what does the subscript or number within a chemical formula represent?
type in boxes.
chemical formula
10h₂o
coefficient -
subscript -

Explanation:

In a chemical formula, the coefficient (the number in front of the chemical formula) represents the number of molecules of that substance. For example, in \(10H_2O\), the coefficient \(10\) means there are \(10\) water molecules. The subscript (the number within the chemical formula, like the \(2\) in \(H_2O\)) represents the number of atoms of an element in a molecule. In \(H_2O\), the subscript \(2\) indicates there are \(2\) hydrogen atoms in one water molecule.

Answer:

• The coefficient (number in front of a chemical formula) represents the number of molecules of the substance.
• The subscript (number within a chemical formula) represents the number of atoms of an element in a molecule.