What term refers to the ratio of elements in the compound?

What term refers to the ratio of elements in the compound?

• A. Molecule
• B. Crystal
• C. Subscript
• D. Double Bond

Answer: (C)

The number that shows how many atoms of each element are in the formula is called a subscript. Subscripts after element symbols indicate the counts of atoms in each formula unit, which directly gives the ratio of elements in the compound. For example, in H2O there are 2 hydrogens for every 1 oxygen, so the element ratio is 2:1. In CO2 the ratio is 1:2 (1 carbon to 2 oxygens). A molecule is a unit made of bonded atoms, a crystal is a solid with a repeating structure, and a double bond is a type of chemical bond—none of these describe the specific counts of atoms in the formula.

The number that shows how many atoms of each element are in the formula is called a subscript. Subscripts after element symbols indicate the counts of atoms in each formula unit, which directly gives the ratio of elements in the compound. For example, in H2O there are 2 hydrogens for every 1 oxygen, so the element ratio is 2:1. In CO2 the ratio is 1:2 (1 carbon to 2 oxygens). A molecule is a unit made of bonded atoms, a crystal is a solid with a repeating structure, and a double bond is a type of chemical bond—none of these describe the specific counts of atoms in the formula.