Writing Chemical Formulas

By Ndwandwe Phila 147815

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Objectives
 Distinguish between molecular and ionic compounds
 Contrast molecular formulas and formula units
 Use the periodic table to determine the charge on an ion
 Define monatomic and polyatomic ion and name the charges of
common polyatomic ions
 Write the formulas and names for binary and ternary ionic compounds
 Write formulas and names for molecular compounds

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Chemical Bonding

 Atoms – same number of protons (+) and

electrons (-); electrically neutral
 Ions – atoms w/ a (+) or (-) charge; have
lost or gained electrons (e-)
* Cations: (+) charge; has lost e-; metals
* Anions: (-) charge; has gained e-;
nonmetals
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Chemical Bonding
 Types of Compounds
A. Molecular – atoms
bonded together by shared
pairs of e- (covalent bonds);
formed between nonmetals
ex: C6H12O6

B. Ionic – ions attracted

to each other by opposite
charges; formed between a
metal and a nonmetal
ex: NaCl 4
Chemical Bonding

Compound Molecular Ionic

Smallest unit Molecule Formula unit

Types of Nonmetals Metal cations

elements Nonmetal anions
Physical state @ Solid, gas, or Solid
room. temp. liquid

Boiling point High, >300oC Low, <300oC

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Chemical Bonding
Chemical Formulas – show the type and
number of atoms in smallest unit of
substance
 Molecular Formula – type and number of
atoms joined to form a molecule
ex: C2H5OH
 Formula Unit – smallest ratio of ions in an
ionic compound
ex: CaF2
 Representing Chemical Compounds

Law of Definite Proportions – in any sample of a

compound, the elements are always combined in the
same proportions
ex: H2O and H2O2
H2O – water – H:O ratio always 2:1
H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide – H:O ratio always 1:1

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Identifying Ionic Charges

 Group A elements – use the periodic table to

determine ionic charge
* elements in same group have
same ionic charge
* Group 4A and Noble gases –
almost never form ions
 Group B elements – many have more than one
ionic charge
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Naming Cations and Anions

Monatomic Ions
 Ions formed by one element
 Cations
* for Group A elements – just write
element’s name
ex: calcium ion (Ca2+) = calcium
* for Group B elements – write element’s
name, then Roman numerals in
parentheses to denote charge
ex: Fe2+ = Iron (II) and Fe3+ = Iron (III)
 Anions – drop the end of the element’s name &
add “–ide” ending
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ex: chlorine ion (Cl1-) = chloride
Naming Cations and Anions

Polyatomic Ions
 Ions formed by more than one type of element
 Atoms of different elements held together by
covalent bonds
 Atoms always stay together and collectively
have a single charge
 Do not always have “-ide” ending
ex: NH41- = ammonium ion
CO32- = carbonate ion

Learn names, formulas, and charges of

polyatomic ions! 10
Naming Cations and Anions

 Potassium ion  Nitrite ion

 Copper (II) ion  Hydroxide ion
 Chloride ion  Phosphate ion
 Oxide ion  SO42-
 Ba2+  CrO42-
 S2-  ClO32-
 Au3+
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Binary Ionic Compounds
 Compounds composed of 2 different monatomic
elements
 To write binary formulas – write cation first, then
anion
*criss-cross charges to determine how
many of each ion you need
*use subscripts to denote number of ions
ex: Ca2+ + Cl1- CaCl2

Na1+ + Cl1- NaCl

 To name binary compounds – write name of cation
first, then anion (-ide)
ex: CaCl2 = calcium chloride 12
Li2O = lithium oxide
Ternary Ionic Compounds
 Compounds containing at least one polyatomic ion; at least 3
different elements
 To write ternary formulas: write cation first, then anion
*criss-cross charges to determine how
many of each ion you need
*use subscripts to denote number of ions
*must use parentheses around polyatomic if more than one is
needed!!!
ex: Na1+ + SO32- Na2SO3
Mg2+ + OH1- Mg(OH)2 [not same as MgOH2]
 To name ternary compounds: write name of cation, then name of
anion (not all end in “-ide”)
**be careful with transition metals (more than one charge)**
ex: CaCO3 = calcium carbonate
PbSO4 = lead (II) sulfate 13

Ag2CrO4 = silver chromate

Binary Molecular Compounds

 Two nonmetals joined by covalent bonds

 Use prefixes for naming
1 = mono- 6 = hexa-
2 = di- 7 = hepta-
3 = tri- 8 = octa-
4 = tetra- 9 = nona-
5 = penta- 10 = deca-

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Binary Molecular Compounds

 To name binary molecular compounds:

*first element gets a prefix if there is more than one
*second element ALWAYS gets prefix, and “-ide” ending
ex: N2O3 = dinitrogen trioxide
CO = carbon monoxide (not monocarbon)
 If element begins with vowel and prefix ends in “a” or “o”, then drop
last vowel on prefix to form the name
ex: Cl2O7 = dichlorine heptoxide (not heptaoxide)

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The End
Thank You

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