Final answer:
Chemical formulas represent substances and can be determined by understanding oxidation numbers. Oxidation numbers help track the transfer of electrons in a chemical reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical Formulas
Chemical formulas represent the composition of a substance and can be determined by understanding the valence or oxidation numbers of the atoms involved. For example, in the molecule glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), there are 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms. By knowing the oxidation numbers of each element, you can determine the correct chemical formula.
Oxidation Numbers
Oxidation numbers are assigned to atoms in order to track the transfer of electrons in a chemical reaction. The rules for assigning oxidation numbers involve analyzing the electronegativity of each element and considering the charge of the ion or molecule. It is important to remember that oxidation numbers are not the actual charge of an atom, but a theoretical construct that helps in understanding chemical reactions.