AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -This is called a subscript. Subscripts show the ratio of atoms of different elements in the compound. Since there are four hydrogen atoms in the molecule, the subscript 4 follows the symbol for hydrogen. If a symbol in a formula does not have a subscript, the number 1 is understood.

Detailed explanation-2: -The little number you see to the right of the symbol for an element is called a subscript. That number indicates the number of atoms of that element present in the compound.

Detailed explanation-3: -Chemical Formulas If we want to represent two atoms of hydrogen, instead of writing H H, we write H2. The subscript “2” means that two atoms of the element hydrogen have joined together to form a molecule.

Detailed explanation-4: -In representing a diatomic molecule, we use the symbol of the element and include the subscript “2” to indicate that two atoms of that element are joined together. The elements that exist as diatomic molecules are hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), fluorine (F2), oxygen (O2), iodine (I2), chlorine (Cl2) and bromine (Br2).

Detailed explanation-5: -The numbers appearing as subscripts in the chemical formula indicate the number of atoms of the element immediately before the subscript. If no subscript appears, one atom of that element is present.