What is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide?

What is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide?

• A. CO
• B. CO2
• C. C2O
• D. C2O2

Answer: (B)

The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is written as CO₂. This representation indicates that each molecule of carbon dioxide consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. The subscript "2" signifies that there are two oxygen atoms associated with a single carbon atom. This formula is fundamental in chemistry because it shows how carbon dioxide is composed and helps in understanding its properties and reactions. In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent carbon dioxide. For instance, CO indicates carbon monoxide, which has one carbon atom and one oxygen atom, forming a highly different compound with distinct properties. C₂O suggests two carbon atoms without specifying the number of oxygen atoms correctly concerning carbon dioxide, and C₂O₂ would imply two carbon atoms bonded to two oxygen atoms, suggesting a different chemical structure entirely, which is not carbon dioxide. Hence, CO₂ is the precise chemical formula depicting the correct composition of carbon dioxide.

The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is written as CO₂. This representation indicates that each molecule of carbon dioxide consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. The subscript "2" signifies that there are two oxygen atoms associated with a single carbon atom. This formula is fundamental in chemistry because it shows how carbon dioxide is composed and helps in understanding its properties and reactions.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent carbon dioxide. For instance, CO indicates carbon monoxide, which has one carbon atom and one oxygen atom, forming a highly different compound with distinct properties. C₂O suggests two carbon atoms without specifying the number of oxygen atoms correctly concerning carbon dioxide, and C₂O₂ would imply two carbon atoms bonded to two oxygen atoms, suggesting a different chemical structure entirely, which is not carbon dioxide. Hence, CO₂ is the precise chemical formula depicting the correct composition of carbon dioxide.