Chemical Formula and Molecular Structure Reflection
What is the relationship between the number of puzzle pieces in the bond and the chemical formula?
Course Hero answer.
a) Puzzle pieces determine molecular shape
b) The chemical formula indicates the number of atoms in a molecule
c) The chemical formula determines the number of valence electrons
d) Puzzle pieces represent bond strength
Final answer:
The chemical formula indicates the number of atoms in a molecule, while the structural formula provides detailed information about the bonding and geometric arrangement of those atoms. Therefore, the correct option is b) The chemical formula indicates the number of atoms in a molecule.
Explanation:
The relationship between the number of puzzle pieces in the bond and the chemical formula is best described by stating that the chemical formula indicates the number of atoms in a molecule. This formula is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms within a particular covalent molecular compound, giving the exact number of each type of atom in the molecule. For example, glucose has the molecular formula C6H12O6, which reveals that it is composed of six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms. However, the molecular formula alone does not provide information about the arrangement of these atoms or the strength of the bonds between them.
For a detailed representation of a molecule's structure, such as the bonding arrangement and the geometric arrangement of atoms, we refer to the structural formula. Structural formulas illustrate which atoms are bonded to one another and sometimes show the approximate arrangement of the atoms in space. In the case of isomers, which are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements, the structural formula is essential for distinguishing between these compounds.