What does a chemical formula represent?

A chemical formula serves as a concise representation of the composition of a substance, indicating both the types of atoms present and their respective quantities within a molecule. This means that when you look at a chemical formula, you can identify which elements are involved, as well as how many atoms of each element are included. For example, the formula H2O tells you that a water molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

This understanding is critical because it provides information about the molecular structure and helps to predict the properties, reactivity, and behavior of the substance in various chemical reactions. The other aspects mentioned in the other options do not accurately capture the fundamental purpose of a chemical formula. It does not denote the total energy, stability in solution, or the electron configuration of individual atoms, but rather focuses solely on the identity and count of the atoms within a molecule.