Chemistry Regent Exam August 2022
9. A structural formula differs from a molecular formula in that a structural formula shows the (1) arrangement of atoms
(2) number of atoms (3) ratio of atoms (4) types of atoms
Explanation: A molecular formula such as C2H4 simply states the number of atoms of each element present in the molecule. You can also see what types of atoms are present (carbon and hydrogen in the example shown above) and their ratio (2 to 4 in C2H4 for example) . A structural formula, on the other hand, shows the structure of the molecule and which atoms are bonded to which atoms. Arrangement of atoms should be the correct answer.
Answer: 1