Writing Formulas

and Naming
Ionic & Covalent
Compounds
©2005 Douglas Gilliland
Honors Physical Science @ Sarasota High
Sarasota, Florida
 Chemical Compounds
An atom consist of a positively charged nucleus (protons
and neutrons) and orbiting electrons.
Atoms of elements are not chemically stable until they have 8
electrons (octet rule).
Atoms gain, lose or share electrons with other atoms to be
come chemically stable ( have 8 valence electrons ).

Six valence
-2
Eight valence
electrons. 8+ electrons. 8+
Not chemically Chemically
stable. Oxygen Atom stable. Oxide Ion
Types of Compounds
I o n i c - occurs when a metal loses all
its valence electrons to a nonmetal. Metal
becomes a cation, nonmetal an anion.
C o v a l e n t - two nonmetals share
electrons. Neither loses or gains
electrons - they share electrons. Neither
atom becomes and ion.
 Ionic
Compounds

Crystalline Lattice
 Burning Magnesium
2Mg + O2 ! 2MgO

+2 -2
20+
+ 8+ 20+
+ 8+

Magnesium Atom + Oxygen Atom ! Magnesium Ion + Oxide Ion

Reaction between sodium + chlorine
2Na + Cl2 ! 2NaCl

-
+
11+ + 17+ 11+ + 17+

Sodium Atom + Chlorine Atom ! Sodium Ion + Chloride Ion

 Ionic Compounds
Includes a metal and a nonmetal.
Metal loses e- and becomes a cation (+).
Nonmetal gains e- and becomes an anion(-).
Metal comes first followed by nonmetal.
Change the name of the nonmetal to -ide.
Examples: nitride, sulfide, fluoride, oxide,
bromide, iodide, chloride, telluride, phosphide.
 Valence electrons are electrons in the
outer energy level of an atom.
Metals have between 1-3 valence electrons.
Nonmetals have between 5-7 valence electrons.
Lose e- Gain e-
Anions
Cations (+ ions) (- ions)
 The valence of an elements is the charge it takes
when it loses or gains electrons.
Metal atoms lose electrons and become + ions (cations)
Nonmetals gain electrons and become - ions (anions)
+1 0
+2 +3 -4 -3 -2 -1
Transition Metals
Multiple valences
The 5 Steps for writing an
ionic compound formula:
Write the symbols of the two elements.
Write the valence of each as superscripts.
Drop the positive and negative signs.
Crisscross the superscripts so they become
subscripts.
Reduce when possible.
Formula for boron oxide

1. Write the symbols of the two elements.

B O
Formula for boron oxide

2. Write the valence for each element.

+3 -2

B O
Formula for boron oxide

3. Drop the positive & negative sign.

3 2

B O
Formula for boron oxide

4. Crisscross the superscripts so they

become subscripts.
3 2

B O
Formula for boron oxide

4. Crisscross the superscripts so they

become subscripts.

B O 2 3
Formula for boron oxide
5. Reduce subscripts when possible.
(not possible here)

B O 2 3
Examples of Reduction
Ca 2S 2 ! CaS
Ge 2 O4 ! Ge O2
Be2Te 3 ! can’t reduce
Al 3 N 3 ! AlN
Sn 2 O4 ! SnO 2
Most Transition elements have 2 valences.
Roman numerals are used in the name
to show the valence on the ion.
Period 4 Transition Metals
!" $% # () &' *+ (, -. (/ 0'
12 13 14 15 13 16 16 16 16 16
12 13 12 15 12 12 12 17

Examples:
Mn Manganese(IV) Mn
+4 +6
Manganese(VI)
Fe +2
Iron(II) Fe +3
Iron(III)
Cu Copper(I) Cu
+1 +2
Copper(II)
Examples of Transition Metals
+2
Iron(II) Fe
+3
Iron(III) Fe
+1
Copper(I) Cu
+2
Copper(II)Cu
Manganese(II) Mn +2

Manganese(IV)Mn +4
Naming compounds with a transition metal.
formula name

Fe2 O 3 Iron(III) oxide

ZnCl 2 Zinc(II) chloride

AgCl Silver(I) chloride

Cu 3 P2 Copper(II) phosphide

PbS2 Lead(IV) sulfide

MnO2 Manganese(IV) oxide

 Polyatomic Ions
-1

Polyatomic (many atom) ions are covalent

molecules with a charge. They behave as
if they were a single atom ion.
 Polyatomic Ions
+1 -2
NH4 Ammonium SO2 Sulfite
-1 -2
OH Hydroxide SO3 Sulfate
-1 -2
NO2 Nitrite CO3 Carbonate
-1 -3
NO3 Nitrate PO4 Phosphate
Treat polyatomic ions as you would any ion - crisscross to
determine the formula. The only difference is that when you
have more than one of a specific polyatomic ion in a formula
you must encase it in parenthesis.
 Writing Formulas
Cation Anion Compound
+2 -1
Ca NO3 Ca(NO3)2
-3
Mg +2 PO4 Mg 3(PO4)2
+1 -1
Na OH NaOH
+2 -2
Ba SO4 Ba SO4
As in all ionic compounds you must reduce subscripts, but you
cannot change the formula of the polyatomic ion. You can only
reduce subscripts outside the parenthesis.
 Compounds with Polyatomic ions
-2
Carbonate CO 3
Sodium carbonate Na 2CO3
Calcium carbonate Ca CO 3
Aluminum carbonate Al 2(CO 3)3
-3
Phosphate PO4
Sodium phosphate Na 3PO4
Calcium phosphate Ca3(PO3 )2
Aluminum phosphate AlPO 3
 Covalent
Compounds
Water
Molecule

Hydrogen Oxygen Hydrogen

Atom Atom Atom
Covalent Compounds
Two nonmetals share electrons so both
have 8 valence electrons. Exception: H
Neither takes on a charge - no valence.
Must use prefixes in the name.
Name tells you the formula. Example:
N2O4 is dinitrogen tetraoxide.
You cannot reduce the formulas!!!
Reaction between hydrogen + oxygen
2H2 + O2 ! 2H2O

1+ 8+
1+ 1+ + 8+

2 Hydrogen Atoms Oxygen Atom Water Molecule 1+

The Space Shuttle
Oxygen

Hydrogen

Water Vapor

Exothermic
Reaction

2H2 + O2 ! 2H2O
 Covalent Prefixes
Mon - 1 Tetra - 4
Di - 2 Pent - 5
Tri - 3 Hex - 6
A prefix tells you the number of
atoms of that element
in the compound.
 Examples of Covalent
Compounds
Dinitrogen trioxide N2O3
Carbon tetrahydride CH 4
Phosphorus pentoxide PO 5
disulfur trifluoride S2F3
Ionic and Covalent Structure
Ionic compounds Water
H atoms
form a crystalline
lattice - a repeating O atom

pattern of ions. Covalent compounds

+3
B ions form individual
N-3 ions molecules that are
not connected to
Boron nitride each other.
 Naming Binary Compounds
Does the compound have a metal?

Yes No
Ionic Covalent
(Metal cation + Nonmetal anion) (Two Nonmetals)
Place metal first followed by nonmetal ending in -ide

Contain a Transition Metal? Place the nonmetal furthest to the

left on the periodic table first, then
Yes No the other nonmetal ending in -ide.
Use Roman Do not use Use prefixes to tell the number of
Numerals to tell Roman atoms in the compound
the valence of Numerals mon(o)-1, di-2, tri-3, tetr(a)-4,
the metal. Examples: pent(a)-5, hex-6
Examples: Examples:
sodium chloride
iron(III) oxide dinitrogen trioxide, nitrogen trichloride,
magnesium nitride
copper(II) chloride phosphorus pentoxide, sulfur dioxide
aluminum fluoride
manganese(IV) oxide carbon tetrachloride, dihydrogen oxide
beryllium oxide
silver(I) chloride
 Summing up: Ionic
Ionic bonding occurs between a metal and
a nonmetal. Metals lose all their valence e-
and become cations. Nonmetals gain
enough e- to fill their valence level and
become anions.
Always crisscross valences and reduce to
determine the formulas of ionic compounds
Do not use prefixes in the names.
Ions form a crystalline lattice.
Summing up: Covalent
Covalent bonding occurs when two nonmetals
share electrons to fill their valence energy
level.
Never use valence to determine the formula -
there isn’t any valence. Since the two atoms
share electrons, they do not take on a
charge.
Always use prefixes in the names.
Atoms combine to form individual molecules.