Answer:
The subscripts in a chemical formula represent two things:
Step-by-step explanation:
The subscripts in a chemical formula represent two things:
1. The number of atoms: The subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element present in a compound. For example, in the chemical formula H2O, the subscript "2" indicates that there are two hydrogen atoms in each water molecule.
2. The number of molecules: The subscripts can also represent the number of molecules in a compound. However, it's important to note that this is not always the case. In most cases, the subscripts in a chemical formula specifically indicate the number of atoms rather than the number of molecules.
To clarify the examples given:
- The statement "★ the number of atoms" is correct. Subscripts in a chemical formula do represent the number of atoms.
- The statements "★ C = 1, H = 6, O = 5" and "★ C = 6, H = 6, O = 1" are not relevant to the question as they do not pertain to the role of subscripts in a chemical formula.