The numbers appearing as subscripts in the chemical formula indicate the number of atoms of the element immediately before the subscript. If no subscript appears, one atom of that element is present.

What do the subscripts mean in a chemical formula?

Subscripts are numbers that come after a symbol and below. Subscripts tell you the number of. atoms of that element. If an element does not have a subscript, then it is understood that the subscript is 1. Li2Cl3 has two lithium atoms and three chlorine atoms.

What does the subscript tell you?

A subscript tells you how many atoms of each element are present in a compound or molecule.