Writing and Naming Chemical Formula

Chemical Formula is a representation of the composition of compounds, it contains:

- The symbols and formula of elements or radical present

- The number of atoms of each element present written as numerical subscript to
the right of each symbols

Writing Chemical Formula Using Crisscross Method

Crisscross Method – is a method of finding out the chemical formula of a metal and non-metal that
combine to form an ionic bond

(RULES)
1.) Identify the charge of the element. Drop down the charge of each element (cross multiply to
become subscript)
Ex. H+1 + O-2= H2O1
2.) When the valence number is 1, Subscript 1 is not written Ex.H2O
3.) When the oxidation numbers of both elements are numerically equal but greater than 1, the
subscript is not also written.
Ex. Mg+2+ O-2= Mg2O2 (MgO)
4.) All radicals take more than one (the subscript is 2 or more) must be enclosed parenthesis ().
Ex. Zn+2 + NO3-1= Zn (NO3)2
5.) All subscript must be reduced to lowest terms (except for molecular or covalent compound)
Ex. C+4 + O-2 = C2O4 (CO2)

Writing Chemical Formula (Empirical and Molecular Formulas)

Empirical Formula - The empirical formula or the simplest formula of a compound gives the smallest
whole number ratio of atom that make up the compound.

This can be determined from the percentage composition of the compound or form the experimental
determined mass relationship of the elements that make up compounds.

Molecular Formula –it is formula giving the number of atoms of each of the elements present in one
molecule of a specific compound.

Ex. 1.) A compound is found to contain 27.3g of carbon,4.55g of hydrogen and 36.4g of oxygen. The
molecular weight is found to be 90g/mol. Calculate its molecular formula.

Step 1. (Solve for the EF)

C= 27.3g ÷12g/mole = 2.28 mole ÷ 2.28 mole = 1

H= 4.55g ÷ 1g/mole = 4.55 mole ÷ 2.28 mole = 2

O= 36.4g ÷ 16g/mole = 2.28 mole ÷ 2.28 mole= 1

Empirical Formula: CH2O

Step 2. (Compute for the EF mass)

C = 1x 12 = 12

H = 2x 1 = 2

O = 1x 16 =16

EF mass = 30g/mole

Step 3. (Compute for the MF using the formula below)

𝑀𝐹 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
MF = x EF
𝐸𝐹 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

90𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
MF = x CH2O
30𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙

MF= 3 x CH2O

MF= C3H6O3
 Naming Chemical Compounds
1.) Binary Compounds
- Consist of 2 elements (Metal with fixed valence number + non-metal)
[ Name of metal + stem name of non-metal + IDE]

NaF (Sodium Fluoride) Li2O (Lithium Oxide)

KI (Potassium Iodide)

2.) Binary Ionic Compounds

a. Stock System – using the roman numeral to indicate the oxidation no. of the metal
[ Name of metal (valence in roman numeral) + stem name of non-metal + IDE]

SnF4 (Tin (IV) Fluoride) Fe2O3 (Iron (III) Oxide)

FeO (Iron (II) Oxide)

b. Classical Method – using the suffix – ous (lower oxidation no.) -ic (higher oxidation no.)

[Latin name of the metal + stem name of non-metal + IDE]

Fe2O3 (Ferric Oxide)

FeO (Ferrous Oxide) Cu2O (Cuprous Oxide)

3.) Ternary Ionic Compounds

[Name of metal + stem name of the first non-metal + ate or ite]
ate for more oxygen; ite for less oxygen

GREEK PREFIX
Al(NO3)3 – Aluminum
Nitrate MONO 1 HEXA 6

Al(NO2)3 – Aluminum DI/PER 2 HEPTA 7

Nitrite
TRI 3 OCTA 8
K2SO4 – Potassium
TETRA 4 NONA 9
Sulfate

K2SO3 – Potassium PENTA 5 DECA 10

Sulfite

4.) Binary Molecular Compound

[Greek prefix + name of the 1st non-metal + Greek prefix + stem name of the 2nd
non-metal + IDE]

P2O5 -DiphosphorousPentaoxide CO2 – Carbon dioxide

SO3 – Sulfur trioxide CCL4 – Carbon tetrachloride.

5.) Binary Acid

a.) [Hydrogen + stem name of the non-metal + IDE]

HCl- Hydrogen Chloride (Hydrochloric Acid) HF- Hydrogen Fluoride (Hydrofluoric Acid)

HBr- Hydrogen Bromide (Hydrobromic Acid) Hl- Hydrogen Iodide (Hydroiodic Acid

6.) Ternary Acid

a.) [Hydrogen + stem name of the central atom + ATE/ITE]
b.) [Stem name of the central atom + OUS/IC + ACID]

Ex.

H2SO4 – Hydrogen Sulfate (Sulfuric Acid)

HNO3 – Hydrogen Nitrate (Nitric Acid)

HNO2 – Hydrogen Nitrite (Nitrous Acid)