2-2 Chemical Formulas 51

Figure 2-5 A computer reconstruction of the

surface of a sample of silicon, as observed with a
scanning tunnelling electron microscope (STM),
reveals the regular pattern of individual silicon
atoms. Many important reactions occur on the
surfaces of solids. Observations of the atomic
arrangements on surfaces help chemists understand
such reactions. New information available using the
STM will give many details about chemical bonding
in solids.

2-2 CHEMICAL FORMULAS

The chemical formula for a substance shows its chemical composition. This represents O O
the elements present as well as the ratio in which the atoms of the elements occur. The
formula for a single atom is the same as the symbol for the element. Thus, Na can rep-
resent a single sodium atom. It is unusual to find such isolated atoms in nature, with the
exception of the noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn). A subscript following the sym- An O2 molecule.
bol of an element indicates the number of atoms in a molecule. For instance, F2 indicates
a molecule containing two fluorine atoms, and P4 a molecule containing four phospho-
rus atoms.
Some elements exist in more than one form. Familiar examples include (1) oxygen,
O
found as O2 molecules, and ozone, found as O3 molecules, and (2) two crystalline forms
of carbon — diamond and graphite (Figure 13-33). Different forms of the same element O O
in the same physical state are called allotropic modifications, or allotropes.
Compounds contain two or more elements in chemical combination in fixed propor-
tions. Many compounds exist as molecules (Table 2-2). Hence, each molecule of hydro-
gen chloride, HCl, contains one atom of hydrogen and one atom of chlorine; each mol-
ecule of carbon tetrachloride, CCl4, contains one carbon atom and four chlorine atoms. 117°
An O3 molecule.

TABLE 2-2 Names and Formulas of Some Common Molecular Compounds

Name Formula Name Formula Name Formula

water H2O sulfur dioxide SO2 butane C4H10

hydrogen peroxide H2O2 sulfur trioxide SO3 pentane C5H12
hydrogen chloride* HCl carbon monoxide CO benzene C6H6
sulfuric acid H2SO4 carbon dioxide CO2 methanol (methyl alcohol) CH3OH
nitric acid HNO3 methane CH4 ethanol (ethyl alcohol) CH3CH2OH
acetic acid CH3COOH ethane C2H6 acetone CH3COCH3
ammonia NH3 propane C3H8 diethyl ether (ether) CH3CH2XOXCH2CH3

*Called hydrochloric acid if dissolved in water.