SYMBOLS, FORMULAE AND EQUATION (PART 1)
Symbols, formulae, and equations are essential tools in chemistry, providing a universal language for representing elements, compounds, and chemical reactions. Symbols are shorthand notations for elements, derived from their Latin or English names, such as “H” for hydrogen and “O” for oxygen. Chemical formulae represent compounds by combining the symbols of their constituent elements, showing the ratio of atoms involved, such as H2O for water. Equations depict chemical reactions, illustrating how reactants transform into products while adhering to the law of conservation of mass. This topic introduces the basics of writing symbols, constructing chemical formulae, and balancing equations, laying the groundwork for understanding the quantitative and qualitative aspects of chemical processes.