formula, in chemistry

formula, in chemistry, an expression showing the chemical composition of a compound. Formulas of compounds are used in writing the equations (see chemical equations) that represent chemical reactions. Compounds are combinations in fixed proportions of the chemical elements. The smallest unit of an element is the atom.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Electron Dot Diagrams
• Semistructural Formulas
• Structural Formulas
• Molecular and Empirical Formulas
• Formulas for Compounds

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Chemistry: General