Asked by Cicilia

Hi!

I would like to know the definitions for...

ELEMENT: something on the periodic table?
COMPOUND: molecule with at least 2 different elements?
SYMBOL: i'm confused about this
FORMULA: i'm confused about this
ATOM: smallest units of elements?
MOLECULE: a group of atoms bonded together?

What is the difference between a symbol and a formula?
Would O2 and CO both be considered molecules?

Note: This is actually not my homework. I have to fill out a chart and classify substances based on these terms.

Help please? Thanks!!!
Answered by DrBob222
Yes, O2 is a molecule of oxygen. CO is a molecule of carbon monoxide. O is the symbol for oxygen while O2 is the formula for molecular oxygen. C is the symbol for carbon. The O2 tells us that the oxygen molecule consists of two atoms of oxygen; the CO (formula for carbon monoxide) tells us that one molecule of carbon monoxide consists of 1 atom of carbon and 1 atom of oxygen. The formula of table sugar (sucrose) is C12H22O11 which tells us that one molecule of sucrose consists of 6 atoms of carbon, 22 atoms of hydrogen, and 12 atoms of oxygen
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