CHEMISTRY

Chemical Formula and

Nomenclature

ENGR. YVONNE LIGAYA F. MUSICO

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Writing Chemical
Formula

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Chemical Formula
A representation of the composition of
compounds. It contains:
1. The symbol and formula of elements or
radicals
2. The number of atoms of each element
present written as numerical subscript to the
right symbol.

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Things to know in writing a Chemical

Formula

1. The symbols of elements and radicals

2. Corresponding valence or oxidation
numbers

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Terminologies

Valence - denotes the number of electrons

in the outermost energy level.
- It also describes the combining power
of an atom in a compound.

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Predicting Ionic Charges

Group 1A: Lose 1 electron to form 1+ ions
H+

Li+ Na+

K+

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Predicting Ionic Charges

Group 2A:Loses 2 electrons to form 2+ ions
Be2+

Mg2+

Ca2+

Sr2+

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Ba2+

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Predicting Ionic Charges

B3+

Al3+

Ga3+

Group 3A: Loses 3

electrons to form
3+ ions

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Predicting Ionic Charges

Neither! Group 3A
elements rarely form
ions.

Group 4A: Lose 4

electrons or gain
4 electrons?

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Predicting Ionic Charges

N3- Nitride
P3- Phosphide
As3- Arsenide

Group 5A: Gains 3

electrons to form
3- ions

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Predicting Ionic Charges

O2- Oxide
S2- Sulfide
Se2- Selenide

Group 6A: Gains 2

electrons to form
2- ions

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Predicting Ionic Charges

F1- Fluoride

Br1- Bromide

Cl1-Chloride

I1- Iodide

Group 7A: Gains 1

electron to form
1- ions

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Predicting Ionic Charges

Group 8A: Stable
Noble gases do not
form ions!

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Predicting Ionic Charges

Groups 3 - 12: Many transition elements
have more than one possible oxidation state.
Iron(II) = Fe2+

Iron(III) = Fe3+

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Predicting Ionic Charges

Groups 3 - 12: Some transition elements
have only one possible oxidation state.
Zinc = Zn2+

Silver = Ag+

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Terminologies

Radicals group of elements which act as

one or single atom in chemical reaction
and show definite valence.
Example:
Sulfate ion (SO4-2)
Ammonium ion (NH4+1)

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Rules in Writing
Chemical Formula

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Rules in Writing Chemical Formula

RULE 1 (CRISS-CROSS RULE)
Chemical compounds are electrically charged, the
total number of positive charge is equal to the
number of negative charges; hence, the valence of
positive entity (ion or radical) equals subscript of
negative entity.
The sum of the positive and the negative valence
should add up to zero.
The positive ion is written first followed by the
negative.

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Example: Aluminum sulfide

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!
2. Check to see if charges
are balanced.

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.

Al3+2 S2-3
Not balanced!

Al S
2

The Chemical Formula

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Rules in Writing Chemical Formula

RULE 2
When valence number is 1, subscript is not written
Example:
Sodium Chloride - Na+1Cl-1

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NaCl

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Rules in Writing Chemical Formula

RULE 3
When the oxidation numbers of both elements are
numerically equal but greater than 1, the subscript are
not also written.
Example:
Calcium Oxide - Ca+2O-2

Exception:
Benzene - C6H6
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CaO

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Example: Magnesium carbonate

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!
2. Check to see if charges
are balanced.

Mg2+ CO32They are balanced!

Mg CO3
Chemical Formula
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Example: Aluminum phosphate

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!
2. Check to see if charges are
balanced.

Al PO4
Chemical Formula

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Al3+ PO43They ARE balanced!

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Rules in Writing Chemical Formula

RULE 4
All radicals take more than one (the subscript is 2 or more)
must be enclosed in parenthesis ().
Example:
Ammonium Sulfate - NH4+1SO4-2

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(NH ) SO
4 2
4

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Example: Barium nitrate

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!
2. Check to see if charges are
balanced.

Ba2+

( NO )
3

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses Not balanced!
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.
Ba
NO3

)2

Chemical Formula
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Example: Zinc hydroxide

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!
2. Check to see if charges
are balanced.

2+
Zn

OH

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses Not balanced!
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.

Zn ( OH ) 2
Chemical Formula

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)2

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Rules in Writing Chemical Formula

RULE 5
All subscript must be reduced to lowest terms (except for
molecular or covalent compounds)
Example:
Tin (IV) Oxide - Sn+4O-2

Sn O SnO
2 4
2

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Formulas of Binary Ionic

Compounds Containing
Metals with Variable
Valence Oxidation
Number or Valence

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A. Stock System

Roman numeral indicated after the name of the metal

represents the oxidation number (valence) of metal.
Example:

Tin (IV) Chloride - Sn+4Cl-1

Tin (II) Chloride - Sn+2Cl-1

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SnCl4

SnCl2

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Example: Iron(III) chloride

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!

Fe3+ Cl-

2. Check to see if charges

are balanced.

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.

Not balanced!

Fe Cl

The Chemical Formula

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Example: Iron(II) chloride

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!

Fe2+ Cl-

2. Check to see if charges

are balanced.

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.

Not balanced!

Fe Cl

The Chemical Formula

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B. Classical or Conventional System

The ic and ous ending are added to the line
stem or root word of the Latin name of the
metal
The ic ending indicates higher oxidation
number or valence
The ous ending indicates lower oxidation
number or valence

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B. Classical or Conventional System

Example:

Stannic Chloride - Sn+4Cl-1

Stannous Chloride - Sn+2Cl-1

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SnCl4

SnCl2

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Example: Ferric chloride

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!

Fe3+ Cl-

2. Check to see if charges

are balanced.

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.

Not balanced!

Fe Cl

The Chemical Formula

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Example: Ferrous chloride

1. Write the formulas for the cation
and anion, including CHARGES!

Fe2+ Cl-

2. Check to see if charges

are balanced.

3. Balance charges , if necessary,

using subscripts. Use parentheses
if you need more than one of a
polyatomic ion.

Not balanced!

Fe Cl

The Chemical Formula

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Formulas of Binary
Molecular or Covalent
Compounds (Containing 2
Non-metals)

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Rule 1
The Greek prefix mentioned before the name
of the non-metals are written as subscripts of
the non-metals.
Example:
Dinitrogen Pentoxide

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N2O5

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Rule 2
If prefix is mono, it is not mentioned at the start
of the name, only the second portion.
Example:
Phosphorous Pentachloride

PCl5

Carbon Monoxide

CO

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Greek Prefixes Used in Naming Binary Molecular

Compounds

Number of
Atoms
1

Prefix

Prefix

mono

Number of
Atoms
6

di

hepta

tri

octa

tetra

nona

penta

10

deca

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hexa

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Try These
Write the chemical formula of the following
Aluminum and carbonate
Copper II and sulfate
Silver phosphate
Lead II chloride
Ammonium acetate

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Answers
Al2(CO3)3
CuSO4
Ag3PO4
PbCl2
NH4C2H3O2

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Formulas of Acids

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A. Binary Acids

Solutions of compounds consisting of

hydrogen and non-metal.
The name starts with hydro and the
ending ic attached to the acid forming
element followed by the word acid.
The formula H followed by the other nonmetal

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A. Binary Acids

Example:
Hydrochloric Acid - H+Cl-1

HCl

Hydrosulfuric Acid - H+S-2

H 2S

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B. Ternary Acids or Oxyacids

Those containing, H, O, and acid forming

element.
The names do not have prefix hydro in
their name terminate in ous or ic.
IC contains more oxygen salt or
radical ends in ate
OUS - contains less oxygen salt or
radical ends in ite
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B. Ternary Acids or Oxyacids

The formula starts with H+1 followed by the radical

H+1 (NMO-) polyatomic ion

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B. Ternary Acids or Oxyacids

Example:
Nitric Acid - H+1 NO3-1

Nitrous Acid - H+1 NO2-1

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HNO3

HNO2

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Nomenclature
(Naming Compounds)

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Rules in Naming
Compounds

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I. Binary Ionic Compounds

Containing 2 different elements Metal and

Non-metal
The name ends in ide

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I. Binary Ionic Compounds

A.

Binary Ionic Compounds containing a metal with fixed

valence (IA and IIA metals and Al, Zn, Ag)

Name of metal + stem name of non metal + ide

Example:
NaF Sodium Fluoride
KI Potassium Iodide

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I. Binary Ionic Compounds

B. Binary Ionic Compounds containing a metal with variable
valence
1. Stock System Roman numeral enclosed in the
parenthesis is written immediately following the
name of the metal to indicate the valence of the
metal.
Name of metal (valence in Roman numeral) + stem name of non metal + ide

Example:
SnF4 Tin (IV) Flouride
SnF2 Tin (II) Flouride
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I. Binary Ionic Compounds

B. Binary Ionic Compounds containing a metal with variable
valence
2. Classical (Old) Method name of metal is modified
with ending ic for higher valence and ous for lower
valence.
Example:
SnF4 Stannic Flouride
SnF2 Stannous Flouride

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I. Binary Ionic Compounds

Exception using ide endings Hydroxides (OH), cyanide
(CN) and ammonium (NH4) compounds are named with
ide ending although they are not.

Example:
NH4I Ammonium Iodide
KCN Potassium Cyanide
Ca(OH)2 Calcium hydroxide

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II. Binary Molecular Compounds

(Containing 2 non-metals) Greek prefixes are used to

indicate the number of atoms.
The prefix mono is dropped at the start of the name.

Greek prefix + name of the first non-metal + Greek prefix

+ stem of name of second non-metal + ide
Example:
P2O5 Diphosphorous pentaoxide or pentoxide
PCl3 Phosphorous trichloride

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III. Binary Molecular Compounds Containing

Hydrogen listed as the First Element

They are named without using Greek numerical

prefixes
Hydrogen + stem of name of non-metal + ide

Example:
HF Hydrogen Fluoride
HCl Hydrogen Chloride

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IV. Binary Acids

Water solutions of molecular compounds composed of

hydrogen and another non-metal except oxygen.
Hydro + stem of name of non-metal + ic ending + acid

Example:
HCl (in water solution) Hydrochloric acid
HF (in water solution) Hydroflouric acid

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V. Ternary Acids (OXY acids)

Name end in ous or ic

OUS less oxygen
IC more oxygen
Stem of name of non-metal + ic or ous ending + acid

Example:
H3PO4 Phosphoric acid
H2PO3 Phosphorous acid

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V. Ternary Acids (OXY acids)

When there are more than two oxy acids of the same
element, the acid wherein the non-metal exhibits a lower
valence than the ous acid uses the prefix hypo and suffix
ous + the word acid
The acid wherein the non-metal exhibits a higher valence
than the ic acid uses the prefix per and the suffix ic + acid

Example:
HClO Hypochlourous acid
HClO2 Chlorous acid
HClO3 Chloric acid
HClO4 Perchloric acid

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VI. Ternary Compounds

The name ends in ite for less oxygen, ate for more
oxygen

Example:
Al(NO3)3 Aluminum Nitrate
NaNO2 Sodium Nitrite

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Try These
Name the following compounds
K2S
CaCO3
MnCl4
HI

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ANSWERS
K2S
CaCO3
MnCl4
HI

potassium sulfide
calcium carbonate
manganese IV chloride
hydroiodic acid or hydrogen iodide

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Try These
Name the following compounds
PCl3
CCl4
CO
CO2

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ANSWERS
PCl3
CCl4
CO
CO2

phosphorus trichloride
carbon tetrachloride
carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide

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Empirical and
Molecular Formula

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Calculating Formula Mass

Calculate the formula mass of magnesium carbonate,
MgCO3.

24.31 g + 12.01 g + 3(16.00 g) = 84.32 g

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Calculating Percentage Composition

Calculate the percentage composition of magnesium
carbonate, MgCO3.
From previous slide:

24.31 g + 12.01 g + 3(16.00 g) = 84.32 g

24.31
Mg
100 28.83%
84.32
12.01
C
100 14.24%
84.32
48.00
O
100 56.93%
84.32
100.00
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Formulas
Empirical formula: the lowest whole number
ratio of atoms in a compound.
Molecular formula: the true number of
atoms of each element in the formula of a
compound.
molecular formula = (empirical formula)n [n =
integer]
molecular formula = C6H6 = (CH)6
empirical formula = CH

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Formulas (continued)
Formulas for ionic compounds are ALWAYS
empirical (lowest whole number ratio).
Examples:
NaCl

MgCl2

Al2(SO4)3

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K2CO3

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Formulas (continued)
Formulas for molecular compounds MIGHT
be empirical (lowest whole number ratio).
Molecular:

Empirical:

H2O

C6H12O6

C12H22O11

H2O

CH2O

C12H22O11

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Empirical Formula Determination

1. Base calculation on 100 grams of
compound.
2. Determine moles of each element in
100 grams of compound.
3. Divide each value of moles by the
smallest of the values.
4. Multiply each number by an integer to
obtain all whole numbers.
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Empirical Formula Determination

Adipic acid contains 49.32% C, 43.84% O, and
6.85% H by mass. What is the empirical formula
of adipic acid?

49.32 g C 1 mol C 4.107 mol C

12.01 g C
6.85g H 1 mol H 6.78 mol H
1.01 g H
43.84 g O 1 mol O 2.74 mol O
16.00 g O
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Empirical Formula Determination

(part 2)
Divide each value of moles by the smallest of the
values.

4.107
mol
C
Carbon:
1.50
2.74 mol O
6.78 mol H
Hydrogen:
2.47
2.74 mol O

2.74 mol O
Oxygen:
1.00
2.74 mol O

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Empirical Formula Determination

(part 3)
Multiply each number by an integer to obtain all
whole numbers.
Carbon: 1.50
x 2

Hydrogen: 2.50
x 2

Oxygen: 1.00
x 2

3
Empirical formula:

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C3H5O2

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Finding the Molecular Formula

The empirical formula for adipic acid is
C3H5O2. The molecular mass of adipic acid
is 146 g/mol. What is the molecular
formula of adipic acid?

1. Find the formula mass of C3H5O2

3(12.01 g) + 5(1.01) + 2(16.00) = 73.08 g

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Finding the Molecular Formula

The empirical formula for adipic acid is
C3H5O2. The molecular mass of adipic acid
is 146 g/mol. What is the molecular
formula of adipic acid?

2. Divide the molecular mass by the

mass given by the emipirical formula.
3(12.01 g) + 5(1.01) + 2(16.00) = 73.08 g

146
2
73
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Finding the Molecular Formula

The empirical formula for adipic acid is
C3H5O2. The molecular mass of adipic acid
is 146 g/mol. What is the molecular
formula of adipic acid?

3. Multiply the empirical formula by this

number to get the molecular formula.
3(12.01 g) + 5(1.01) + 2(16.00) = 73.08 g

146
2
73

(C3H5O2) x 2
=
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C6H10O4

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Question or
Comments?