Chemical Formulas

Chemical Formulas - Chemistry and Compounds

Chemistry is the science of chemical elements and
compounds and how these things work together - for more
information see the Beginners Guide to Periodic Chemistry.
A chemical element contains only one type of atom. If a
substance contains more than one type of atom, it is a
compound. A compound is a pure chemical substance
consisting of 2 or more different elements that can be
separated into simpler substances by Chemical Reactions.
Chemical Formulas - Chemical Substances
Chemical substances exist as solids, liquids or gasses
( States of Matter). Most elements are solids, only 11 are
gases and 2 are liquids. Substances may change between
these phases of matter with changes in temperature or
pressure. A common example of a chemical substance is
pure water.
Chemical Formulas - Chemical Reactions
Chemical reactions convert one chemical substance into
another. A common example of a chemical substance is
pure water. Changes in temperature can change from a
liquid (water) to a solid (ice) to a gas (water vapour /
steam).
Chemical Formulas
Chemical Formulas - What is a Chemical Formula?
What is a Chemical Formula? A formula in chemistry is a
type of shorthand for representing the elements in a
compound. Element Symbols are included on the Periodic
Table. Symbols from the periodic table are used for the
individual elements. e.g. O for oxygen, H for hydrogen, C
for carbon, N for nitrogen, Ca for calcium and Na for
Sodium. Substances that have two or more atoms bonded
together, and therefore more than one element, are called
compounds. See Examples of Compounds.
Examples of Chemical Formulas
Examples of chemical formulas and their meanings are
explained in Examples of Chemical Formula and Equations.
This page provides examples detailing how to write a
formula or equation together with examples and the use of
subscripts.
Chemical Formulas - Subscripts
Chemical formulas shows the symbols of the elements in
the compound and the ratio of the elements to one another.
If a substance contains more than one atom of a particular
element, this quantity is indicated in chemical formulas
using a subscript number after the chemical symbol.
Chemical Formulas - Examples of the use of Subscripts
The subscript refers only to the element it immediately
follows. For example in formulas and equations, the
chemical formula for water is H2O which indicates that 2
atoms of Hydrogen combines with 1 atom of oxygen. The
chemical formula for sodium chloride is NaCl indicating that
one atom of sodium combines with one atom of chlorine in
a one-to-one ratio. Subscripts are added, following the
element symbol, to indicate that the number of atoms of
that element in the compound if it is greater than one. For
example, the equation for magnesium bromide MgBr2 which
indicates that one magnesium atom combines with two
bromine atoms.
Common Chemical Formulas List
The following list shows some of the most common
formulas for both elements and compounds.
List of Common Formulas
What is the Chemical Formula for Sodium
Na
Sodium
What is the Chemical Formula for Water
H
2
O
Water
What is the Chemical Formula for Glucose
C
6
H
12
O
6
Glucose
What is the Chemical Formula for Alcohol
C
2
H
6
O
Alcohol
What is the Chemical Formula for Sulfate Group
CaSO 4
Sulfate Group
What is the Chemical Formula for Hydrogen Sulfide
H
2
S
Hydrogen Sulfide
What is the Chemical Formula for Salt
NaCl
Salt
What is the Chemical Formula for Oxygen molecule
O
2
Oxygen
What is the Chemical Formula for Ethanol
C
2
H
6
O
Ethanol
What is the Chemical Formula for Vinegar
C
2
H
4
O
2
Vinegar
What is the Chemical Formula for Ammonia
NH
3
Ammonia
What is the Chemical Formula for Magnesium
Mg
Magnesium
What is the Chemical Formula for Acetic Acid
C
2
H
4
O
2
Acetic Acid
What is the Chemical Formula for Butane
C
4
H
10
Butane
What is the Chemical Formula for Acetate
CH
3
CO
2
Acetate
What is the Chemical Formula for Nitrate
NO
3
Nitrate
What is the Chemical Formula for Copper
Cu
Copper
What is the Chemical Formula for Nitrogen molecule
N
2
Nitrogen
What is the Chemical Formula for Carbon Dioxide
CO
2
Carbon Dioxide
What is the Chemical for Sulfuric Acid
H
2
SO
4
Sulfuric Acid
What is the Chemical Formula for Methane
CH
4
Methane
What is the Chemical Formula for Sucrose
C
12
H
22
O
11
Sucrose
What is the Chemical Formula for Propane
C
3
H
8
Propane
What is the Chemical Formula for Baking Soda
NaHCO
3
Baking Soda
What is the Chemical Formula for Fluoride
F
Fluoride
What is the Formula for Fluorine Molecule
F
2
Fluoride
What is the Formula for Hydrogen Peroxide
H
2
O
2
Peroxide
Chemical Formula for Caffeine
C
8
H
10
N
4
O
2
Caffeine
What is the Formula for Sodium Chloride (Salt)
NaCl
Sodium Chloride
What is the Chemical Formula for Aspirin
C
9
H
8
O
4
Aspirin
What is the Formula for Hydrochloric Acid
HCl
Hydrochloric Acid
What is the Chemical Formula for Zinc Nitrate
Zn(NO
3
)
2
Zinc
What is the Chemical Formula for Carbon Monoxide
CO
Carbon Monoxide
What is the Formula for Sodium Hydroxide
NaOH
Sodium Hydroxide
What is the Formula for Cyanide (Sodium Cyanide)
NaCN
Sodium Cyanide
What is the for Cyanide (Calcium Cyanide)
Ca(CN)
2
Calcium Cyanide
What is the Formula for Gold
Au
Gold
What is the Chemical Formula for Iodine
I
Iodine
What is the Chemical Formula for Tin
Sn
Tin
What is the Chemical Formula for Benzene
C
6
H
6
Benzene
What is the Formula for Hydrogen Sulfide
H
2
S
Hydrogen Sulfide
Chemical Formula for Acetone
CH
3
COCH
3
Acetone
Chemical Formula for Phosphoric Acid
H
3
PO
4
Phosphoric Acid
What is the Chemical Formula for Pentane
C
5
H
12
Pentane
What is the Chemical Formula for Methanol
CH
3
OH
Methanol
What is the Chemical Formula for Hydrobromic Acid
HBr
Hydrobromic Acid
Chemical Formula for Carbonic Acid
H
2
CO
3
Carbonic Acid
What is the Chemical Formula for Titanium
Ti
Titanium
What is the Chemical Formula for Sodium
Hypochlorite
NaClO
Sodium Hypochlorite
What is the Chemical Formula for Ethane
C2H6
Ethane
What is the Chemical Formula for Ammonium
Sulfate
(NH
4
)
2
SO
4
Ammonium Sulfate
What is the Chemical Formula for Octane
C
8
H
18
Octane
What is the Chemical Formula for Copper Sulfate
CuSO
4
Copper Sulfate
What is the Chemical Formula for Cholesterol
C
27
H
46
O
Cholesterol
What is the Formula for Benzoic Acid
C
7
H
6
O
2
Benzoic Acid
What is the Formula for Sulfurous Acid
H
2
SO
3
Sulfurous Acid
What is the Formula for Galactose
C
6
H
12
O
6
Galactose
What is the Formula for Ascorbic Acid
C
6
H
8
O
6
Ascorbic Acid
What is the Formula for Dry Ice
CO
2
Dry Ice
What is the Formula for Sodium Nitrate
NaNO
3
Sodium Nitrate
What is the Formula for Calcium Oxide (Quicklime)
CaO
Calcium Oxide
What is the Formula for Iodic Acid
HIO
3
Iodic Acid
What is the Formula for Lactic Acid
C
3
H
6
O
3
Lactic Acid
What is the Formula for Magnesium Bromide
MgBr
2
Lactic Acid
What is the Formula for Water Vapor
H
2
O
Water Vapor
What is the Formula for Oxide
No Formula
Oxide
What is the Formula for Carbon
C
Carbon
What is the Formula for Hydrogen
H
Hydrogen
What is the Formula for Sugar
C nH 2n O n
Sugar
What is the Formula for Sulfate
O
4
S
2-
Sulfate
What is the Formula for Nitrous Oxide
N
2
O
Nitrogen
Formula for Citric Acid
C
6
H
8
O
7
Citric Acid
Formula for Octane
C
8
H
18
Octane
Formula for Camphor
C
10
H
16
O
Camphor
Formula for Silver Oxide
AgI
Silver Oxide
Formula for Arsenic Trioxide
As
4
O
3
Arsenic Trioxide
Formula for Gold Trioxide
Au
2
O
3
Gold Trioxide
Formula for Gold Sulfide
Au
2
S
Gold Sulfide
Formula for Bromine
Br
2
Bromine
Formula for Aluminium foil
Al
2
O
3
Aluminium foil
What is the Chemical Formula for Acid Rain
SO2 (Sulphur dioxide) + NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) +
H2O (Water) = Acid rain
Acid Rain
List of Common Formulas
Chemical Formulas
The above list provides details the most common formulas
and equations. Click on the link to an element to discover
additional facts and information about the element.