Which statement describes how chemical formulas, such as H2O, represent compounds?

A chemical formula uses element symbols to show which elements are present in a compound. In H₂O, H stands for hydrogen and O stands for oxygen; the subscript 2 shows there are two hydrogen atoms for each oxygen atom. The formula does not show the molecule’s three-dimensional shape or the specific bonds between its atoms, so “They show the elements that make up a compound” is correct.

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