The ''chemical formula'' of any compound (ionic or molecular) is either a list of the [[Chemical symbol|chemical symbols]] of its constituent elements, with subscripts to describe their ratio, or else a slightly more complex listing or even a drawing intended to describe not merely the ratio of the constituent elements but also their arrangement. A chemical compound might have as many as three types of formulas. | The ''chemical formula'' of any compound (ionic or molecular) is either a list of the [[Chemical symbol|chemical symbols]] of its constituent elements, with subscripts to describe their ratio, or else a slightly more complex listing or even a drawing intended to describe not merely the ratio of the constituent elements but also their arrangement. A chemical compound might have as many as three types of formulas. |