A chemical formula shows the types and __blank__ of atoms in the smallest representative unit of a substance.
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A chemical formula shows the types and numbers of atoms in the smallest representative unit of a substance. To determine the types and numbers of atoms in a chemical formula, you need to understand the symbols and numerical subscripts used in the formula.
The symbol of an element represents the type of atom present in the substance, for example, "H" for hydrogen or "O" for oxygen. The numerical subscript refers to the number of atoms of each element present in the formula, indicating the ratio of elements in the compound.
For example, the chemical formula for water is H2O. In this formula, "H" represents hydrogen, and "O" represents oxygen. The subscript "2" indicates that there are two hydrogen atoms, and there is one oxygen atom.
It is important to note that a chemical formula provides information about the composition of a compound, but it does not show the arrangement or bonding between the atoms.