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question 5
what does a molecular formula tell us?
the shape of the molecule
the charge of each atom
the type and exact number of atoms in a molecule or compound
the physical properties of the compound
A molecular formula is a representation of a molecule. It uses chemical symbols to show the types of atoms present in the molecule and subscripts to indicate the exact number of each type of atom. For example, the molecular formula of water is \(H_2O\), which tells us there are 2 hydrogen atoms (\(H\)) and 1 oxygen atom (\(O\)) in a water molecule. It does not provide information about the shape of the molecule (which is determined by molecular geometry), the charge of each atom (which is related to oxidation states or ionic charges not shown in the molecular formula), or the physical properties of the compound (like melting point, boiling point, etc., which are separate characteristics not indicated by the molecular formula).
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The type and exact number of atoms in a molecule or compound