Definition: The formulae of a molecule gives the numbers of atoms of the same or different elements present in the molecule.
Formulae of elements:
- When an atom of an element combines with another atom(s) of the same element, a molecule of the element is formed.
- For example, two atoms of hydrogen combine to form a molecule of hydrogen. So the formulae of hydrogen are H2.
- Molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.contain two atoms of the element. As these molecules have two atoms of the element, they are called diatomic.
- The molecules are having three atoms of an element called triatomic. For example, ozone(O3) is a triatomic gas.
- The molecules having one atom of an element is called monoatomic. A molecule of noble gas contains only one atom of an element. For Example helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon.
- The formulae of the noble gas are the same as its symbol.