Chemical Formula

Imagine trying to explain a complex recipe to a friend, but you only have a few seconds to do so. This is similar to how scientists use chemical formulas to convey detailed information about compounds quickly and efficiently. Just as the recipe shorthand might list "2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour" to summarize the ingredients, a chemical formula like H2O uses symbols and numbers to represent the elements and their quantities in a compound, allowing for quick understanding and communication.
Practice Version

Chemical Formula: A shorthand that uses symbols to represent elements in a compound. Chemical formula. A chemical formula shows the types and numbers of atoms present in a molecule.