Meaning & use
subscript
A small number written below and after a chemical symbol to show how many atoms of that element are present.
See it in a sentence
In H2O, the subscript 2 shows that each water molecule has two hydrogen atoms.
Chemists use a subscript to indicate the number of atoms in a molecular formula.
A note on using this word
Do not confuse a chemical subscript, which counts atoms, with a superscript, which shows an ion's electric charge.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
superscript
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