What does a chemical formula of a compound describe?

A chemical formula of a compound describes the elements present in the compound and the relative proportions of those elements. It provides a concise way to communicate the composition of a substance, indicating which types of atoms are in the compound and how many of each type there are. For example, in water (H2O), the formula indicates that there are two hydrogen atoms for every one oxygen atom. This aspect of a chemical formula allows scientists to understand the basic makeup of the compound without needing to delve into its structure, reactions, or physical properties.

While the structure of a compound is important, it is typically represented by different types of representations, such as structural formulas or models, rather than the chemical formula itself. Similarly, information about temperature and color is related to the behavior and physical characteristics of the compound rather than its fundamental composition.