What does the prefix in a chemical formula mean?

Answer 1

Different things for different prefixes. Meth, eth, prop, etc. are prefixes in organic chemistry that tell you that there are 1, 2, 3, etc. carbon atoms in a compound. Other prefixes mean other things. But you need to learn the rules for naming compounds, because there are exceptions. CO has just one carbon, but its name has nothing to do with the meth prefix. It is called carbon monoxide.

Answer 2

When you are referring to the prefix in the name of a molecular (covalent) compound, the prefix in the name tell you the number of atoms of each element in a molecule of the compound.

Answer 3

The coefficient in front of a chemical formula tells you the amount of the substance. It can mean number of atoms, molecules, formula units, or moles.

Answer 4

the number of molecules

Answer 5

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