However, when writing formulae/equations we are condensing knowledge (causal, temporal, macro and sub-micro) and mathematic operations into the symbols. As a result, the symbols have the potential for multiple meaning making. Which good news for expert chemists but problematic for the learners.

Symbolic language is vital to meaning making in chemistry as it is very difficult to express the quantitative composition of a substances or molar ratios in chemical reactions in words alone.