Distinguish between a chemical formula and a chemical equation
A chemical formula is a representation of a chemical compound using symbols for the elements present in the compound. It typically consists of the symbols for the elements in the compound, along with numerical subscripts indicating the number of atoms of each element present. For example, the chemical formula for water is H2O, indicating that it is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
A chemical equation is a representation of a chemical reaction using symbols for the reactants and products. It typically consists of the symbols for the reactants on the left side of the equation, an arrow indicating the direction of the reaction, and the symbols for the products on the right side of the equation. For example, the chemical equation for the combustion of methane is CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O, indicating that methane and oxygen react to form carbon dioxide and water.