What do the numbers in a formula for a compound tell you?

Answer 1

Subscripts give you the number of molecules in that compound. (For example, H2O contains one molecule of Hydrogen.) Superscripts give you a charge.

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Answer 2

The numbers in the formula of a compound show the number of atoms of each element in a formula unit* of the compound, after applying the following principles:

1. Determine whether each number is a (i) subscript, which in print or ideal typography is smaller that average for its font size and depressed below part of the letters in the formula, or (ii) a coefficient, which in print or ideal typography is normal in size compared to the letters in the formula and is neither depressed or elevated with respect to the letters in the formula.**

2. Determine whether the atomic symbol for any element in the formula occurs more than once. If it does, treat each occurrence as an independent atomic symbol until applying the last principle below.

3. The absence of any number immediately following the sole or latter letter of an atomic symbol is equivalent to an implicit subscript number of 1. This implicit number should be considered as if it were explicitly written in applying the subsequent principles.

4. If there are any pairs of parentheses in the formula, the number immediately following the sole or latter letter of an atomic symbol within the parentheses shows the number of atoms of that element within the polyatomic unit enclosed in the parentheses; the closing (right) parenthesis will have a subscript number following it, and this number must be multiplied by any subscript number within the parenthesis to show the number of atoms of that element, and that product should be substituted in further calculations for the number explicitly present in the formula for that atomic symbol.

5. If a coefficient number is in the formula, the coefficient must be multiplied by all the subscript numbers following the coefficient until either (i) the end of the formula is reached, as indicated by a space before the next character, or (ii) a vertically centered dot is reached in the formula, and the resulting product should be substituted in further calculations for the number explicitly present in the formula for that atom. (This multiplication is cumulatively applied to any subscript number as modified according to any one of the preceding principles.)

6. The subscript number for each occurrence of an atomic symbol, after any modification as described above, shows the number of atoms of that element corresponding to the occurrence of that atomic symbol in the formula for the compound. If the same atomic symbol appears more than once in the formula, add together all subscript numbers immediately following that atomic symbol, as modified by principles 1 and 2 above to obtain the total number of atoms of that element in each formula unit of the compound.

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*For the purpose of applying these principles, "formula unit" should be interpreted to include "molecule" for covalently bonded compounds.

**Since a compound by definition is electrically neutral, the formula of a compound should not contain any superscript numbers, which may be used in formulas for other types of chemical entities to indicate electric charges.

Answer 3

The numbers in a formula for a compound indicate the ratio of each element's atoms within the compound. These numbers represent the subscript for each element and tell you the specific number of atoms of each element in the compound's chemical formula.

Answer 4

They mean that a horse needs your help getting a little kid off it back without killing it. -_-

Answer 5

the numbers are what is in a compound number

Answer 6

Subscripts give you the number of molecules in that compound. (For example, H2O contains one molecule of Hydrogen.) Superscripts give you a charge.