Brackets in chemical formulas When you have brackets such as $\ce{Zn(NO3)2}$, if there is a coefficient around the formula such as $\ce{2Zn(NO3)2}$, how would you read this? Would there be 2 zinc atoms, 4 nitrogen and 12 oxygen atoms if I am multiplying that out correctly?
$\ce{2Zn(NO3)2}$ can be interpreted differently, depending on the context.
The '2' outside of the parenthesis could either refer to two molecules or two moles of substance. In either case, the chemical formula tells you the same thing: that there are two units of $\ce{NO3-}$ for every unit $\ce{Zn^2+}$.

I would write it as zinc (II) nitrate, (read as 'zinc-two-nitrate) The roman numeral (II) refers to the oxidation state of the zinc ion, which is $+2$.