Reading (Naming) and Writing of Chemical Formulas / Unit 3

Language of Chemistry:
Elements symbols (alphabet)
Compounds formulas (words)
Reactants and Products chemical equations (sentences)

Formulas for Ionic Compounds:

The valence system is used with ionic compounds (formula units)
Valence = charge = combining capacity of atoms
o For nonmetals and most non-transition metals, consult periodic table to determine
charge of ion.
o For metals with more than one possible charge, consult valence table.
The valence system allows us to get atom ratios without doing the experiment to find the
mole ratio.

Types of Ionic Compounds: (Remember, these are called formula units, not molecules!)
1. Binary* ionic compounds consist of a metal and a non-metal (M-NM).
a. Example: NaCl
2. There are fewer non-metals than metals and many groups of elements act as non-metal
groups called polyatomic ions. Ternary* and quaternary* ionic compounds consist of a
metal and a polyatomic ion (M-P). Review: what type of bonding occurs in polyatomic ions?
a. Example: NaNO3
3. There are also a few important positively charged polyatomic ions that can bond with
anions to form ionic compounds.
a. Example: NH4OH
* refers to the number of elements in the compound

Naming Ionic Compounds:

Step 1 Name the metal. (By convention, the symbol of the metal always goes first in
an ionic compound; b/c its the least electronegative element)
Step 2 Name the nonmetal or polyatomic ion (changing ending to -ide)
o Nonmetal = element with ide ending (Note: Hydrogen = hydride)
o Polyatomic ions = most are ites and ates
Some metals have more than more than one possible valence/charge (transition metals):
o Roman numeral system charge on the metal ion goes in parentheses after metal
o ous = lower valence; ic = higher valence

Examples: BaCl2
Fe2O3

Practice

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 1

1. K2O 3. NaNO3
2. CuCl2 4. NH4OH

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 2

Writing Formulas of Ionic Compounds
Key point: Total valence (or charge) of the compound must be zero.
Roman Numerals or ous/ic are required for metals with more than one possible valence.
Dont forget to use parentheses with polyatomic ions.

Example #1: Magnesium chloride

Example #2: Tin (IV) oxide
Example #3: Calcium phosphate

Practice
1. Calcium chloride 5. Tin (II) chloride
2. Iron (III) oxide 6. Barium hydroxide
3. Potassium dichromate 7. Copper (II) bromide
4. Potassium permanganate 8. Sodium acetate trihydrate

Reading and Writing Formulas for Covalent Compounds:

The Greek prefix system is used with covalent compounds (molecules). No valence/charge
is needed because no ions are involved.
When both elements are nonmetals the more metallic (least electronegative) goes first.
Step 1 Name first element using prefix (if subscript >1; no mono for the first element)
Step 2 Name second element using prefix and change ending to ide.
Misc.
o Do not use mono for first element.(e.g. CO2 = carbon dioxide)
o Drop as with oxides. (e.g. tetroxide)

Examples: CO2
P2O10

Practice
1. CO 5. NO
2. CCl4 6. PBr5
3. PI3 7. ICl7
4. CS2 8. H2 O

Acids
There are nine acids whose formulas and names you need to memorize!

Summary:

Ionic ("formula units"): M-NM(ide) "Valence System"

M-P
Covalent ("molecules"): (prefix?)NM-(prefix)NM(ide) "Prefix System"

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 3