V.

Nomenclature,
Formula Writing, and
Molecular Geometry
PREPARED BY GIL FELICISIMO S. CABRERA
Introduction
•During the early days of chemistry there was no system for naming
compounds.
• Names such as sugar of lead, blue vitrol, quicklime,
Epsom salts, milk of magnesia, gypsum, and laughing
gas were coined by early chemists. Such names are
called common names
•More than 50 million chemical compounds are
currently known
Chemical Nomenclature
•The names and chemical formulas of compounds
are essential vocabulary in chemistry.

•The system used in naming substances is called

chemical nomenclature, from the Latin words
nomen (name) and calare (to call).
Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Cations
a. Cations formed from metal atoms have the same name
as the metal:

b. If a metal can form cations with different charges, the

positive charge is indicated by a Roman numeral in
parentheses following the name of the metal:
Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Cations
An older method still widely used for distinguishing
between differently charged ions of a metal uses the
endings -ous and -ic added to the root of the element’s Latin
name:
Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Cations
c. Cations formed from nonmetal atoms have names that
end in -ium:
Common Cations
Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Anions
a. The names of monatomic anions are formed by replacing
the ending of the name of the element with -ide:

Few polyatomic anions also have names ending in -ide:

Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Anions
b. Polyatomic anions containing oxygen have names ending
in either -ate or -ite and are called oxyanions. The -ate is
used for the most common or representative oxyanion of
an element, and -ite is used for an oxyanion that has the
same charge but one O atom fewer:
Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Anions
Prefixes are used when the series of oxyanions of an
element extends to four members, as with the halogens.
The prefix per- indicates one more O atom than the
oxyanion ending in -ate; hypo- indicates one O atom fewer
than the oxyanion ending in -ite:
Names and Formulas of
Ionic Compounds
Anions
c. Anions derived by adding H+ to an oxyanion are named
by adding as a prefix the word hydrogen or dihydrogen,
as appropriate:
Common Anions
Formula writing for Ions
1. Different value of integer for charge
A+2 + B-1 = AB2 Ex. FeCl2, AuCl3, Cu2O
2. Same value of integer
C+2 + D-2 = C2D2  Divide the coefficient by the integer
= CD
Ex. NaCl, CaO, TiN
3. Different value of integer but can be divided to lowest term
E+2 + F-4 = E4F2  Divide the coefficient by the common factor
= E2 F
Ex. PbO2, CrO3
Exercises
Name the following ionic compounds.
a) K2SO4
potassium sulfate
b) Ba(OH)2
barium hydroxide
c) FeCl3
iron (III) chloride / ferric chloride
d) NH4Br
ammonium bromide
e) Cr2O3
chromium (III) oxide
Exercises
Determine the Formulas of Ionic Compounds from Their Names.
a) potassium sulfide
K+ + S2- = K2S
b) calcium hydrogen carbonate
Ca2++ HCO32-= CaHCO3

c) nickel(II) perchlorate
Ni2+ + ClO4- = Ni(ClO4)2

d) magnesium sulfate
Mg2++ SO42- = MgSO4

e) lead (II) nitrate

Pb + NO3
2+ -
= Pb(NO3)2
Name and Formulas of Acids
1. Acids containing anions whose names end in -ide
are named by changing the –ide ending to -ic,
adding the prefix hydro- to this anion name, and
then following with the word acid:
Name and Formulas of Acids
2. Acids containing anions whose names end in -ate
or -ite are named by changing -ate to -ic and -ite to -
ous and then adding the word acid. Prefixes in the
anion name are retained in the name of the acid:
Name and Formulas of Acids
Exercises
Name the following acids
a) HCN
Hydrogen cyanide (pure compound, gas under normal conditions)
Hydrocyanic acid (water solution of HCN)
b) HNO3
Nitric acid
c) H2SO4
Sulphuric acid
d) H2SO3
Sulphurous acid
Exercises
Give the chemical formulas of the following acids
a) Hydrobromic acid
HBr
b) Carbonic acid
H2CO3
Names and Formulas of Binary
Molecular Compounds
The procedures used for naming binary (two-element)
molecular compounds are similar to those used for naming
ionic compounds:
1. The name of the element farther to the left in the periodic
table (closest to the metals) is usually written first. An
exception occurs when the compound contains oxygen and
chlorine, bromine, or iodine (any halogen except fluorine), in
which case oxygen is written last.
2. If both elements are in the same group, the lower one is
named first.
3. The name of the second element is given an -ide ending.
Names and Formulas of Binary
Molecular Compounds
4. Greek prefixes are used to indicate
the number of atoms of each element.
The prefix mono- is never used with the
first element. When the prefix ends in a
or o and the name of the second
element begins with a vowel, the a or o
of the prefix is often dropped.
Exercises
Relating the Names and Formulas of Binary Molecular Compounds
a) SO2
Sulfur dioxide
b) PCl5
Phosphorus pentachloride
c) Cl2O3
Dichlorine trioxide
d) Silicon tetrabromide
SiBr4
e) Disulfur dichloride
S2Cl2
So how to draw the shape of a molecule?
Valence Shell Electron Pair
Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory
•A model for describing the shapes of
molecules whose main postulate is that the
structure around a given atom is determined
by minimizing the electron pair repulsion.
•Therefore, the electrons and elements bonded
to the central atom want to be as far apart as
possible.
“The best arrangement of a given number of
things is the one that minimizes the repulsions
among them.”
Geometry
These are the
geometries for two
through six things
around a central
atom.
Geometry

All one must do is count the number of “things” in the Lewis structure.
The geometry will be that which corresponds to that number of
“things.”
Geometry

The geometry is often not the shape of the molecule, however.

The “shape” is defined by the positions of only the atoms in the
molecules, not the lone pairs.
Geometry
•Difference with shape:
Within each
geometry, there
might be more than
one shape.
Linear Geometry

In this geometry, there is only one molecular geometry: linear.

NOTE: If there are only two atoms in the molecule, the molecule will be
linear no
matter what the geometry is.
Trigonal Planar Geometry

There are two molecular geometries:

 Trigonal planar, if there are no lone pairs
 Bent, if there is a lone pair.
Lone pair and Bond Angle

Lone pairs are physically larger than atoms.

Therefore, their repulsions are greater; this tends to
decrease bond angles in a molecule.
Multiple Bonds and Bond Angles

Double and triple bonds place greater electron density on

one side of the central atom than do single bonds.
Therefore, they also affect bond angles.
Tetrahedral
Geometry
There are three molecular geometries:
 Tetrahedral, if no lone pairs
 Trigonal pyramidal if one is a lone pair
 Bent if there are two lone pairs
Trigonal Bipyramidal Geometry

There are two distinct

positions in this
geometry:
 Axial
 Equatorial
Trigonal Bipyramidal Geometry

Lower-energy conformations result from having lone pairs

in equatorial, rather than axial, positions in this geometry.
Trigonal Bipyramidal
Geometry

There are four distinct molecular

geometries in this domain:
 Trigonal bipyramidal
 Seesaw
 T-shaped
 Linear
Octahedral
Geometry
All positions are equivalent
in the octahedral domain

There are three molecular

geometries:
Formal Charge
•It is possible to draw more than one Lewis structure with
the octet rule obeyed for all the atoms.
•To determine which structure is most reasonable, we use
formal charge.
•Formal charge is the charge on an atom that it would have
if all the atoms had the same electronegativity.
•Formal charge is:
(valence electrons - number of bonds - lone pair electrons)
Formal Charge
•Consider:
C N
•For C:
• There are 4 valence electrons (from periodic table).
• In the Lewis structure there are 2 nonbonding electrons and 3 from the triple
bond. There are 5 electrons from the Lewis structure.
• Formal charge: 4 – 3 – 2 = -1.
Formal Charge
•Consider:
C N
•For N:
• There are 5 valence electrons.
• In the Lewis structure there are 2 nonbonding electrons and 3 from the triple
bond. There are 5 electrons from the Lewis structure.
• Formal charge = 5 – 3 – 2 = 0.

•We write:
C N
Formal Charge
•The most stable structure has:
• the lowest formal charge on each atom,
• the most negative formal charge on the most electronegative atoms.
Resonance Structures
•Some molecules are not well described by Lewis Structures.
•Typically, structures with multiple bonds can have similar structures
with the multiple bonds between different pairs of atoms
•Example: experimentally, ozone has two identical bonds whereas the
Lewis Structure requires one single (longer) and one double bond
(shorter).
O
O
O
Resonance Structures
Resonance Structures
•Example: in ozone the extreme possibilities have one
double and one single bond. The resonance structure has
two identical bonds of intermediate character.
O O
O O
O O

•Common examples: O3, NO3-, SO42-, NO2, and benzene.

Exceptions to the Octet Rule
•There are three classes of exceptions to the
octet rule:
• Molecules with an odd number of electrons;
• Molecules in which one atom has less than an octet;
• Molecules in which one atom has more than an octet.
Exceptions to the Octet Rule
Odd Number of Electrons
Few examples. Generally molecules such as ClO2, NO, and
NO2 have an odd number of electrons.

N O N O
Exceptions to the Octet Rule
More than an Octet
•This is the largest class of exceptions.
•Atoms from the 3rd period onwards can accommodate more
than an octet.
•Beyond the third period, the d-orbitals are low enough in
energy to participate in bonding and accept the extra
electron density.
Molecular Shape and Molecular Polarity
•When there is a difference in electronegativity between two atoms,
then the bond between them is polar.
•It is possible for a molecule to contain polar bonds, but not be polar.
•For example, the bond dipoles in CO2 cancel each other because CO2
is linear.
Molecular Shape and Molecular Polarity
Molecular Shape and Molecular Polarity

•In water, the molecule is not linear and the bond

dipoles do not cancel each other.
•Therefore, water is a polar molecule.
Molecular Shape and Molecular Polarity
Molecular Shape and Molecular Polarity
•The overall polarity of a molecule depends on its
molecular geometry.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Example:
First step, identify the total valence electrons (e) available

Note that the valence electrons for the ff: Boron group has 3, Carbon group has 4, Nitrogen group has 5, Oxygen group
has 6, Fluorine group has 7, and noble gases has 8.

So: C4x1 = 4e
O6x3 = 18e
Charge of the molecule = 2e
Total = 24e
Second step, identify electrons (e) for octet, you need 8
So: C8x1 = 8e
O8x3 = 24e
Total = 32e
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Third, identify the central atom. For identifying the central atom, remember the
rules for electronegativity. The atom which is less electronegative will be the
central atom, in this case the C atom
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Fourth, identify the number of bonds. Subtract the number of total valence
electrons to the total octet electrons. Then divide the difference by 2. Why 2?
For each line of bond there are 2 electrons

32 – 24 = 8  8/2 = 4 bonds

We can designate these 4 bonds as:

Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Fifth, we determine the remaining number of electrons for each atom. Since we
already have 4 bond = 8 electrons, we subtract this to the total number of
valence electrons from step 1

24e – 8e = 16 electrons
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
We then distribute this 16 electrons to the atoms present on the molecule to
satisfy the octet rule. For C, we have 4 bonds which in turn has 8e  octet
already satisfied.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
For the oxygen that has 2 bonds = 4e, it only needs 4 electrons to complete the
octet so we place 2 lone pairs. We then subtract this to 16e, so we only have 12e
left.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
For each Oxygen with a single bond = 2e, each only needs 6 electrons to
complete the octet so we place 3 lone pairs. 12 – 12 = 0  no leftover
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Lastly, determine the formal charge of the atoms.

FC = valence electrons - number of bonds - lone pair electrons

For the Carbon atom: For the Oxygen with two bonds:

FC = 4 – 4 – 0 = 0 FC = 6 – 2 – 4 = 0

For the Oxygen with a single bond:

FC = 6 – 1 – 6 = –1
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Since there are two oxygens with a single bond, the formal charge of –1 should
be placed on both. The final structure should be:
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
The –2 charge of the molecule is due to the fact that it has two oxygen atoms
that has a charge of –1. From the table on the powerpoint, this should have a
geometry of trigonal planar.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Downside of this method is that it can only by applied to atoms that
obey the octet rule. Elements from period 3 or higher can exhibit an
expanded octet. If the method above fails, one should use this short
cut I devised.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Example:

First Chlorine has valence electrons of 7 and is less electronegative

than Oxygen so it should be the central atom.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
Second, since the Cl atom is from period 3 it can distribute all its
valence electros to exhibit expanded octet. And since each oxygen
needs two electrons it should look like this.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
We then compute complete the octet and charge. Notice that one
oxygen only has one bond, we will put the -1 charge here. So
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
So cleaning the structure, it should look like the image below and
should have a pyramidal geometry.
Steps on how to determining the
molecular geometry:
One can also argue that the structure below can be considered. But
remember this is not allowed because chlorine will have the -1
charge.
Sample Problems
Predict the molecular geometries of the following:
(a) AsCl5
(b) TeF4
(c)
Sample Problems
(a) AsCl5
Arsenic is the least electronegative so it should be the central atom. It
belongs to group 5, it should have 5 valence electrons. It also belongs
to period 3 or higher. Also, Chlorine only needs 1 electron to
complete its octet.
Sample Problems

The structure should have trigonal pyramidal geometry

Sample Problems
(b) TeF4
Since Te belongs to the same group as Oxygen and repeating
the steps above you’ll come up with the following. Fluorine
only needs 1 electron to complete its octet.
Sample Problems

The structure should have a geometry of see saw

Sample Problems
(c)
Similar to the problems above. Cl has 7 valence electrons
and Oxygen needs 2 electron to complete the octet
Sample Problems

The structure should have a geometry of tetragonal