Question

Explain why the symbol for the element sulfur and the formula for a molecule of sulfur differ.

Answer 1

Answer:

Symbol : S

molecule : S₈

Explanation:

The symbol of an element is just the representation with few alphabets (one or two) with no digit as we don't represent it for an atom or molecule. Just a symbol.

So for example

Symbol for Helium is He

Symbol for hydrogen is H

Symbol for sulfur is S

However the sulfur in nature exist as a molecule with eight atoms of sulfur.

Thus the elemental form of sulfur is an eight atomic molecule

The forms is represented as S₈.

Answer 2

Answer:

Elements are composed by one single atom and molecules are composed by two or more atoms of the same element.

Explanation:

Hello,

At first, we must consider that elements are composed by one single atom and molecules are composed by two or more atoms of the same element. In such a way if we bring to bear sulfur whose symbol is $S$ we're just identifying there is only one atom. On the contrary, a typical sulfur molecule, $S_8$ contains eight equal sulfur atoms.

Best regards.