What is the chemical formula for water?

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Multiple Choice

What is the chemical formula for water?

Explanation:
The main idea is that a chemical formula shows exactly how many atoms of each element are in a molecule. Water is made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, so the formula must reflect two hydrogens for every one oxygen: H2O. This matches water’s neutral, stable composition. The other possibilities describe different substances: HO2 would have one hydrogen and two oxygens, H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide (two hydrogens and two oxygens), and OH is just the hydroxyl unit rather than the full water molecule. So the correct formula for water is H2O.

The main idea is that a chemical formula shows exactly how many atoms of each element are in a molecule. Water is made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, so the formula must reflect two hydrogens for every one oxygen: H2O. This matches water’s neutral, stable composition. The other possibilities describe different substances: HO2 would have one hydrogen and two oxygens, H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide (two hydrogens and two oxygens), and OH is just the hydroxyl unit rather than the full water molecule. So the correct formula for water is H2O.

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