A displayed formula shows every atom in a molecule and every bond between them.Each covalent bond is drawn as a line. A single bond is one line, a double bond is two lines and a triple bond is three lines.For example, in the displayed formula of ethanol, each of the two carbon atoms is drawn with four bonds, the O-H bond is shown and all six hydrogen atoms are drawn.
Displayed formulae are drawn flat on the page, so they do not show the real 3D shape or bond angles. They are useful for seeing exactly which atoms are joined and for showing mechanisms.
Displayed formulae are drawn flat on the page, so they do not show the real 3D shape or bond angles. They are useful for seeing exactly which atoms are joined and for showing mechanisms.