Question

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> What is the method to represent a compound?

Answer 1

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> The representation of a compound can be done by its chemical formula. The chemical formula is a symbolic representation of the composition of the compound. (1 mark)

For example, carbon dioxide constitutes one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms, so its chemical formula consists of a symbolic representation of these two atoms with the ratio of composition. Carbon and oxygen are represented as 'C' and 'O' respectively. So the chemical formula of carbon dioxide will be CO₂, where 2 represent the number of atoms of oxygen. (2 marks)