Final answer:
Scientists use a chemical formula to represent the composition of compounds in shorthand, which includes element symbols and numerical subscripts to denote the types and numbers of atoms present. The empirical formula shows the simplest ratio of elements, while the molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms. This is essential for determining the compound's composition and characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that scientists show the composition of compounds by a kind of shorthand known as a chemical formula. A chemical formula is a concise way of indicating the elements that comprise a compound and the relative proportions of those elements. The element symbols and numerical subscripts used in a formula tell us the type and number of atoms of each element in the compound. The molecular formula specifies the actual number of each atom in a molecule, while the empirical formula indicates the simplest whole-number ratio between the atoms in the compound. For instance, the empirical formula for glucose is CH2O, which represents the simplest ratio, while its molecular formula is C6H12O6, reflecting the actual numbers of atoms in a glucose molecule.
Furthermore, a chemical formula can provide information necessary for calculating the molar mass of the compound as well as the percentage by mass that each element contributes to the compound. This information can then be used to deduce its empirical and molecular formulas. In the laboratory, initial calculations often yield the empirical formula, which can then be converted into the molecular formula if the molar mass is known.