Final answer:
Knowing chemical names and formulas helps individuals in daily life by enhancing their understanding of substances and chemical processes encountered routinely. Chemical formulas act as a universal language, fostering clear communication and identification of substances in a variety of contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
How does knowing chemical names and formulas affect an individual? The correct answer is that it helps in daily life and improves the understanding of substances. Knowing either the empirical or molecular formula of a compound can help to determine its composition in more detail, which is relevant to a variety of real-world applications and industries, not just chemistry.
For instance, making coffee or cooking eggs involves understanding the chemical changes that occur during these processes. Products like soap, shampoo, and even the gasoline that fuels cars involve chemistry and knowledge of chemical substances and processes. Thus, chemistry, through chemical names and formulas, plays a significant role in the routine lives of individuals.
Chemical formulas provide a universal language that allows scientists and even non-scientists to identify substances accurately and communicate efficiently about them. They provide information on how many atoms of each element a compound contains, and empirical formulas indicate the simplest ratio of these elements. Through such knowledge, individuals can understand and potentially influence the production, use, and effects of various chemical substances encountered daily.