Just in case someone may not know; this means water.
2006-07-18 19:48:48 · 16 answers · asked by j h 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
There is more than one answer hwere thtat helped so I'm going with the more detailed one. Thanks everyone
2006-07-18 20:06:07 · update #1
Superscripts (the "top" as you put it) represent isotopes in Chemical formulas. They are written with the number up and to the left of the element.
The Subscripts (on the "bottom" as you put it) represent the number of atoms in that particular compound.
So you see there are things that go in these spots. As to why? Well, it is simply the convention for writing chemical formulas that has evolved to become the standard.
2006-07-18 19:54:46 · answer #1 · answered by eyebum 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 at the top means taking the square of that number.
2 at the bottom means there is 2 pieces of that atom in the formula; There is 2 hydrogene and one oxygen in water formula.
2006-07-19 02:57:08 · answer #2 · answered by tapsev 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The convention is to write the atomic number, that is, the number of protons in the atomic nucleus and the element's order in the periodic table, at the bottom and to the left. The total number of nucleons (protons plus neutrons) at the top right, to tell you which isotope it is, and the number of atoms of that element in the molecule at the bottom right.
2006-07-19 03:05:46 · answer #3 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
H2 (2 at the bottom) refers to 2 hyrogen atoms.
H2O (2 at the bottom) refers to 2 hyrogen atoms n one oxygen atoms.
if h2O(2 at the top) mean 1 hyrogen atoms n 2 oxygen atoms.
water=H2O(2 at the bottom)
get it?
2006-07-19 02:54:56 · answer #4 · answered by CL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you write a formula in chemistry you always put how much of what is in it after you write the element name....like...... 2 parts hydrogen and 1 part oxygen. only they don't write the 1 because that would take too much time.
2006-07-19 02:54:33 · answer #5 · answered by drtgirlz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An upper 2 means squared so it would mean H4O
2006-07-19 02:52:36 · answer #6 · answered by R C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because up means squared, as in math, down is a chemical symbol.
2006-07-19 02:52:35 · answer #7 · answered by Not Tellin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if u put the 2 on the top...that means that it s power....so using the chemical terms they put it down so tht it shows 2 hydrogen
hehhe
2006-07-19 06:24:59 · answer #8 · answered by balu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol, water really? I thought i was vanilla milk. lol anyway it means 2 Hydrogens. Its just science stuff. Honestly thats the way they chose to write it!
2006-07-19 02:52:25 · answer #9 · answered by Nerds Gone Wild 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if at the top it would mean squared. at the bottom it indicats that there are 2 molecules of Hydrogen.
2006-07-19 02:54:17 · answer #10 · answered by COOLasBLUEice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋