What does the molecular formula show?

What does the molecular formula show?

• A. Shows total number of atoms
• B. Shows actual arrangement of atoms
• C. Shows types of bonds
• D. Shows molecular geometry

Answer: (A)

The molecular formula shows the total number of atoms of each element in a molecule. It tells you the composition, for example, H2O means there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom in every molecule. It does not reveal how those atoms are connected or arranged, so it can’t show the actual structure or geometry. Different substances can share a formula but have different connectivities, like C4H10 existing as two isomers with different arrangements. It also doesn’t indicate bond types (single, double, triple) or the 3D shape; that information comes from structural formulas and models, not from the simple counts in the molecular formula.

The molecular formula shows the total number of atoms of each element in a molecule. It tells you the composition, for example, H2O means there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom in every molecule. It does not reveal how those atoms are connected or arranged, so it can’t show the actual structure or geometry. Different substances can share a formula but have different connectivities, like C4H10 existing as two isomers with different arrangements. It also doesn’t indicate bond types (single, double, triple) or the 3D shape; that information comes from structural formulas and models, not from the simple counts in the molecular formula.