What is the number “4” in SiCl4? a subscript a coefficient a product a reactant
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The number “4” in SiCl₄ is a subscript.
Explanation
In chemistry, chemical formulas are used to represent substances and show the types and numbers of atoms involved. In the formula SiCl₄, the “Si” stands for silicon, and “Cl” stands for chlorine. The small number 4 written after “Cl” is called a subscript.
What is a subscript?
A subscript in a chemical formula indicates how many atoms of that element are present in a molecule or compound. It is written below and to the right of the element symbol. In SiCl₄, the subscript “4” tells us that there are 4 chlorine atoms bonded to 1 silicon atom.
Subscripts are part of the molecular formula and are essential for understanding the composition of compounds. For example:
- H₂O means 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.
- CO₂ means 1 carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.
- SiCl₄ means 1 silicon atom and 4 chlorine atoms.
What are the other options?
- A coefficient is a number placed in front of a chemical formula to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved in a reaction. For example, in 2H₂O, the “2” is a coefficient indicating two water molecules.
- A reactant is a substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction (usually on the left side of a chemical equation).
- A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction (usually on the right side of a chemical equation).
So, in the case of SiCl₄, the “4” is not a coefficient, reactant, or product — it is a subscript, which tells us how many chlorine atoms are present in each molecule of silicon tetrachloride.The number “4” in SiCl₄ is a subscript.
Explanation (300 words):
In chemistry, chemical formulas are used to represent substances and show the types and numbers of atoms involved. In the formula SiCl₄, the “Si” stands for silicon, and “Cl” stands for chlorine. The small number 4 written after “Cl” is called a subscript.
What is a subscript?
A subscript in a chemical formula indicates how many atoms of that element are present in a molecule or compound. It is written below and to the right of the element symbol. In SiCl₄, the subscript “4” tells us that there are 4 chlorine atoms bonded to 1 silicon atom.
Subscripts are part of the molecular formula and are essential for understanding the composition of compounds. For example:
- H₂O means 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.
- CO₂ means 1 carbon atom and 2 oxygen atoms.
- SiCl₄ means 1 silicon atom and 4 chlorine atoms.
What are the other options?
- A coefficient is a number placed in front of a chemical formula to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved in a reaction. For example, in 2H₂O, the “2” is a coefficient indicating two water molecules.
- A reactant is a substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction (usually on the left side of a chemical equation).
- A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction (usually on the right side of a chemical equation).
So, in the case of SiCl₄, the “4” is not a coefficient, reactant, or product — it is a subscript, which tells us how many chlorine atoms are present in each molecule of silicon tetrachloride.
