Answer: Option (b) is the correct answer.
Explanation:
A structural formula is defined as the formula that shows symbols of atoms present in the formula along with the bonds present between them.
For example, structural formula of ethene is [tex]H_{2}C=CH_{2}[/tex].
This structural formula shows that there exists a double bond between the two carbon atoms which the hydrogen atoms are attached to each carbon atom via single bond.
Whereas a chemical formula only represents the number of atoms present in a compound. But it does not tell about the arrangement of atoms.
For example, chemical formula of sulfuric acid is [tex]H_{2}SO_{4}[/tex] and this does not show how atoms are exactly arranged.
On the other hand, both space-filling model and ball-and-stick model tells us about how exactly atoms are arranged to each other. This is because both these models provide actual arrangement in a 3-dimensional structure of a compound or molecule.
Hence, with the help of space-filling model and ball-and-stick model it becomes easier to visualize the structure of a compound.
Thus, we can conclude that out of the given options structural formula provides the number and type of elements in a compound in the way that is close to their actual arrangement.
