Lesson 11

 WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULA

AND NAMING COMPOUNDS

Writing Formulas of Compounds

The following are the steps in writing chemical formulas for binary
compounds (compounds with molecules containing two kinds of atoms).

1. Write the symbol of the positive ion or cation first followed by the symbol
of the negative ion or anion.

Examples: Na+ Cl- Mg2+ F-

2. Criss-cross the valence numbers, disregarding the sign, so that the charge
of the cation becomes the subscript of the anion, and the charge of the
anion becomes the subscript of the cation.

Examples: Na+Cl- Na1Cl1

Mg2+F- Mg1F2

a. If the subscript is one, it is no longer written.

Example: Na1Cl1 NaCl

b. If the subscript of both the cation and the anion is the same, omit writing
the subscripts.

Examples: Ca2+ O2- Ca2O2 CaO

Al3+ P3- Al3P3 AlP

c. Reduce the subscripts to simplest whole number ratio.

Example: C4+ O2- C2O4 CO2

d. When a polyatomic ion needs a subscript, enclose it first in parentheses.

If the original polyatomic ion already contains a parenthesis, enclose it
with brackets.

Example: Al3+ SO42- Al2(SO4)3

Al3+ Fe(CN)64- Al4[Fe(CN)6]3

A table of common monoatomic and polyatomic cations and anions is

usually printed in periodic tables. It would be wise to familiarize oneself with
these ions’ formulas, valences as well as names.

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Naming Compounds

The formulas and names of compounds are essential vocabulary in

chemistry. The naming of substances is called chemical nomenclature, from
Latin words nomen (name) and calare (to call). In naming different
compounds, the following rules apply:

For Binary Compounds

1. Binary compounds containing a metal (Cation) and a non-metal (Anion)
Take the name of the cation then add the name of the anion.

Example:

2. Binary compounds containing a multivalent metal (cation) and a non-metal

(anion) (Refer to your periodic table for the valences of the multivalent
elements.)
In naming binary compounds involving multivalent metals, two systems
apply, the Old System and the Stock or IUPAC System.

Old System
If the multivalent metal used is the one with lower valence, the Latin
name of the metal is used followed by the suffix –ous then followed by the
name of the non-metal (anion).

Example:

If the multivalent metal used is the one with higher valence, the Latin
name of the metal is used followed by the suffix –ic then followed by the
name of the non-metal (anion).

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 Example:

Stock System
The name of the multivalent metal in stock system depends upon the
valence it used. The English name of the multivalent metal is used and the
value of the valence in Roman numeral enclosed in parenthesis and the
name of the nonmetal (anion).

Example:

3. Binary compounds containing two nonmetals

Take the name of the first nonmetal attaching a Greek prefix
corresponding to its subscript then the root of the other
nonmetal plus –ide attaching a Greek prefix corresponding to
its subscript.

Example:

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4. Binary compounds containing two nonmetals with H as the first element
are generally regarded as acids (except H2O & H2O2).To name them, take
the prefix hydro- then the root of the other nonmetal then attach –ic acid.

Example: HCl Hydrochloric Acid

HBr Hydrobromic Acid
H2S Hydrosulfuric Acid

For Ternary Compounds

Ternary compounds refer to compounds with molecules containing
more than two atoms. They usually consist of either a monoatomic ion and a
polyatomic ion or both polyatomic ions. Most ternary compounds are oxy-acids
(acids containing oxygen) or salts or ternary oxy-acids.

Take the name of the cation then add the name of the anion. (Note that
cations and polyatomic ions can be monoatomic or polyatomic.)

Example:

Naming ternary compounds with multivalent metals have the same rules as
with binary compounds containing multivalent metals.

Example: Old System

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Example: Stock System

Naming Ternary Acids - most polyatomic acids are composed of a Hydrogen

ion and a polyatomic ion. In naming ternary acids, take the name of the
polyatomic ion. If the name of the polyatomic ion ends in –ate, it is replaced
with –ic. If it ends in –ite, it is replaced with –ous.

Example:

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