General Chemistry 1

Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Naming and Writing Chemical Formula
General Chemistry 1
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Naming and Writing Chemical Formula
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such
agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.)
included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has been
exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective copyright
owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

OIC-Schools Division Superintendent: Carleen S. Sedilla CESE
OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent: Brian E. Ilan EdD

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Erma Aycardo Pigtain

Editor: Edwin I. Salviejo EdD

Reviewers: Edwin I. Salviejo EdD

Layout Artist: Arnold G. Chan

Management Team: Angelita S. Jalimao

Chief Education Supervisor, Curriculum Implementation Division

Neil Vincent C. Sandoval

Education Program Supervisor, LRMS

Edwin I. Salviejo EdD

Division Science Coordinator/School Principal I

Printed in the Philippines by the Schools Division Office of Makati City through the
support of the City Government of Makati (Local School Board)

Department of Education – Schools Division Office of Makati City

Office Address: Gov. Noble St., Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo

City of Makati, Metropolitan Manila, Philippines 1212
Telefax: (632) 8882-5861 / 8882-5862
E-mail Address: [email protected]
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the
properties of matter and its various forms. The scope of this module permits it to be used in
many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of
students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order
in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

• Lesson 1 – ISOTOPES
• Lesson 2 – Naming and Writing Chemical Formula

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. recognize common isotopes and their uses; and
2. name compounds given their formula and write formula given their chemical name.

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What does the simplest formula of a substance shows?
A. The actual number of atoms of each element in one molecule of a substance.
B. The elements that make up one molecule of the substance and the simplest whole
number ratio between the atoms.
C. The number of molecules in a sample of the substance.
D. The molecular mass of the substance.
2. What is the formula that shows the number and kind of atoms which a substance of a
molecule contained?
A. atomic formula B. chemical formula C. compound formula D. molecular formulaWhat does
the smallest particle of carbon dioxide (CO2) consists of?
A. two atoms B. three atoms C. four atoms D. five atoms
4. Oxygen is a diatomic gas so what is its chemical formula?
A. O2 B. O2 C. O D. Ox
5. Sodium becomes a cation when ___________
A. it loses a proton C. it loses an electron
B. it gains a proton D. it gains an electron
6. Every atom of a given element has the same number of what two sub atomic particles?
A. neutrons and quarks C. electrons and protons
B. quarks and hadrons D. electrons and neutrons
7. Every atom of a given element does not have the same number of what sub atomic particle?
A. electrons B. neutrons C. protons D. quarks
8. Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus and
different mass numbers are called what?
A. isometric B. isopropyl C. isothermic D. isotopes
9. All isotopes of a given element have the same _______________.
A. atomic mass B. atomic number C. atomic valence D. atomic variable
10. Even though isotopes of an element have the same atomic number, they have different
_____________.
A. mass numbers B. mass proportions C. mass totals D. mass weights
11. Prefixes are used to name what types of compounds?
A. Acidic Compounds C. Molecular Compounds
B. Ionic Compounds D. Organic Compounds
12. Which of the metals listed below can have more than one charge?
A. Lithium B. Sulfide C. Iron D. Chloride
13. The aluminum ion is Al3+ while the sulfate ion is SO42-. What would be the correct formula
for aluminum sulfate?
A. AlSO4 B. Al2SO43 C. Al3(SO4)2 D. Al2(SO4)3

1
 14. Which of the following is true about unstable isotopes?
A. They decay over time. C. They can turn into another element.
B. They can turn into another isotope. D. All of the above
15. What element has the most stable isotopes?
A. Iron B. Hydrogen C. Oxygen D. Tin

Lesson
ISOTOPES
1
Each element on the periodic table consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and
electrons are charged particles, but neutrons have no charge. The charge of a proton and electron
are equal in magnitude, but have opposite signs. We say that protons are positively charged and
electrons are negatively charged. Together, protons, neutrons, and electrons make up the mass
of the element, which is also called an atom. These subatomic particles are very small, and
cannot be seen with the human eye. However, their masses have been measured.

What’s In
Let us recall the mass of the three particles that made up an atom.
Mass of electron = 0.00054858 amu = 9.10940 x 10-31 kg
Mass of neutron = 1.008665 amu = 1.67495 x 10-27 kg
Mass of proton = 1.007277 amu = 1.6726 x 10-27 kg

Amu stands for atomic mass unit. Obviously, the mass of a proton and neutron are very
similar, while the mass of an electron is much less than the other two particles.

As we know that the proton and the neutron are located inside the nucleus of an atom,
while the electron is orbiting around the nucleus.

If you know the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an element, it is a simple
matter to calculate the mass of that element. This brings us to two common terms used in
chemistry, atomic number and mass number. The atomic number is the number of protons in
an element. The atomic number is what is used to identify the element. The mass number is the
number of protons plus the number of neutrons.
• The elements on the periodic table are organized according to their atomic numbers.

What’s New
Activity 1.0.
Scenario: Let's imagine a pair of identical twins. These
twins have the same temperament, and since they're
identical, it is very hard to tell them apart unless you
examine them closely. When it is time for their annual
physical, the twins need to step on a weighing scale, and
when they do, one weighs slightly more than the other. In
terms of chemistry, we can say that these twins are like
isotopes of each other.

https://www.afspc.af.mil

2
Direction: Look for identical objects in your home.
Measure the mass of each object using a weighing
scale, then compare. Take a picture of the objects
that you’re going to use and paste it on the box
below.

Atoms and elements are made of protons, neutrons and electrons. The nucleus is made of
protons and neutrons, and the electrons surround the nucleus. The sum of the number of
protons and the number of neutrons is equal to the atomic mass.

What is It

• The number of protons in a nucleus is the atomic number, Z.

Z = p+
• The nucleon number or mass number A is the sum of the number of protons p+
and the number of neutrons n0.
number of protons + number of neutrons = mass number

A = p+ + n0
• mass number – number of protons = number of neutrons

n0 = A – p+
• number of protons = number of electrons (in neutral atom)

p+ = e-
A single nuclear species having specific values of both Z and N is called a nuclide. The
electron structure of an atom, which is responsible for its chemical properties, is determined by
the charge Ze of the nucleus. The nuclide that have same Z but different N is called are called
isotopes. They have different masses because they have different numbers of neutron in their
nuclei.
• notation for individual nuclides: the symbol of the element, with a pre-subscript
equal to atomic number Z and a pre-superscript equal to the mass number A.
𝑨
𝒁𝑿 where X is the name of the element
Examples:
1. CHLORINE (Cl) – Z = 17 and A = 35, A = 37

3
 35 37
17𝐶𝑙 17𝐶𝑙 pronounced “chlorine-35” and “chlorine-37”

2. HYDROGEN (H) – Z = 1 and A = 1, A = 2, A = 3

1 1 1
1𝐻 2𝐻 3𝐻
protium deuterium tritium

• Protium is the most prevalent hydrogen isotope, with an abundance of 99.98%.

It consists of one proton and one electron. It is typically not found in its
monoatomic form, but bonded with itself (H2) or other elements.
• Deuterium is a hydrogen isotope consisting of one proton, one neutron and one
electron. It has major applications in nuclear magnetic resonance studies.
• Tritium is a hydrogen isotope consisting of one proton, two neutrons and one
electron. It is radioactive, with a half-life of 12.32 years.

Radioactive isotope, also called radioisotope, radionuclide, or radioactive nuclide,

any of several species of the same chemical element with different masses whose nuclei are
unstable and dissipate excess energy by spontaneously emitting radiation in the form of alpha,
beta, and gamma rays.

When a radioactive isotope is added in small amounts to comparatively large quantities

of the stable element, it behaves exactly the same as the ordinary isotope chemically; it can,
however, be traced with a Geiger counter 1 or other detection
device.

Radioactive isotopes may occur naturally or be artificially produced.

Radioactive isotopes stabilize themselves over time by shedding radioactive energy in a

process called radioactive decay.

ISOTOPES APPLICATION:
1. Cobalt-60 is extensively employed as a radiation source to arrest the
development of cancer.
2. Iodine-131 has proved effective in treating hyperthyroidism.
3. Carbon-14, which is used in a breath test to detect the ulcer-causing bacteria
Heliobacter pylori.2
4. Other radioactive isotopes are used as tracers for diagnostic purposes as well as
in research on metabolic processes.

A. Direction. Match column A with column B. Write the letter of the correct answer on the
column provided for your answer.
Answer Column A Column B
Neutron a. tritium
Proton b. period
Chemical symbol of the element c. Mendeleev’s table
Notation of the nuclide d. Z
Number of neutrons e. A
Number of protons and neutrons f. R
Atomic number g. p+
Particles with negative charges h. n-
Hydrogen isotope i. electrons
Periodic Table of Elements j. N
k. 𝐴𝑍𝑅
B. Direction: Complete the table below by supplying the necessary data.
e- p+ n0 A
Sodium-23 11
Aluminum-27 13

1
A Geiger counter is an instrument used for detecting and measuring ionizing radiation.
2
A type of bacteria that enters into the digestive tract that causes sores called ulcers.
4
 Strontium-90 38 52
cobalt-60 27

What I Have Learned

• Some elements have more neutrons than others. These different versions of
the atom is called isotopes. Atoms of an element that contains different
numbers of neutrons are called isotopes of the element. Some isotopes are
stable while others are not. Most elements are a mixture of two or more
isotopes.
• The atom is made up of the nucleus at the center where protons (+ charged
particle and neutrons (uncharged particle) particles are found. Orbiting
around it are the tiny electrons (negatively charged particle). The number of
protons and electrons in an atom are equal making the atom neutral or
uncharged.
• Atomic mass or the mass of an atom is mainly in its nucleus. Protons and
neutrons which have about the same mass contribute to the mass of the atom
but electrons do not because it has negligible mass.
• Radioisotopes are isotopes use for medical, agricultural and other biological
activities which utilizes the beneficial effects of radiation.

What I Can Do

Direction: Answer the questions below based on what have you learned in the discussion
in this module of the topic about isotopes.
1. How are the nuclei of the isotopes of each element similar to each other?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Are the arrangements of electrons for the isotopes of each element similar or different? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. How many protons, electrons and neutrons are there in one atom of 235 92𝑈?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. How many protons, electrons and nuetrons are there in one atom of 238 92𝑈?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. What are the different ways in which isotopes are used in medicine, agriculture and in other
fields of studies?

6. Explain how scientists use radioactive isotopes to determine the age of rocks and dead
organisms.

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet
of paper.
1. The reason isotopes have the same atomic number but different mass number is they have
different numbers of what atomic particle?
A. electrons B. hadrons C. neutrons D. protons
5
2. Oxygen atoms have 8 protons in their nucleus, giving then what atomic number?
A. 4 B. 8 C. 10 D. 12
3. Some oxygen isotopes have 8 protons and 8 neutrons, which give them what atomic mass?
A. 8 B. 12 C. 16 D. 24
4. What is the atomic mass number of an oxygen (Z=8) isotope that has 9 neutrons?
A. 8 B. 9 C. 16 D. 17
5. What is the atomic mass number of an oxygen (Z=8) isotope that has 10 neutrons?
A. 8 B. 10 C. 16 D. 18
6. The identity and chemical properties of an atom are determined by ____________
A. critical temperature C. melting temperature
B. critical freezing point D. number of protons
7. Which of the following is radioactive?
A. hydrogen sulfide B. vimentin C. tritium D. deuterium
8. Which of the following isotopes is not a radioisotope?
A. Carbon-13 B. Carbon-14 C. Tritium D. Sulphur-35
9. Which pair of isotopes are likely to result in the greatest isotope effect?
A. Carbon-12 and carbon-14 C. Hydrogen and deuterium
B. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 D. Nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15
10. Which of the following isotopes has the shortest half life?
A. Fluorine-18 B. Carbon-11 C. Tritium D. Carbon-14
11. Isotopes of the same element must have the same number of __________.
A. neutrons B. protons C. electrons D. both B and C
12. Isotopes of the same element must have different numbers of
A. neutron B. protons C. electrons D. both A and B
13. A neutral atom of 37𝐶𝑙 has
A. 37 protons, 37 neutrons, and 37 electrons
B. 17 protons, 37 neutrons, and 17 electrons
C. 17 protons, 20 neutrons, and 37 electrons
D. 17 protons, 20 neutrons, and 17 electrons
14. Which isotope of boron ( 10B+ or 11B+ ) would travel furthest in a mass spectrometer?
A. 10B+ C. They would travel the same distance.
B. 11B+ D. It is impossible to predict which one would travel farther.
15. If an atom's atomic number is given by Z, its atomic mass by A, and its neutron number by
n0, which of the following is correct?
A. n0 = A + Z C. n0 = A – p+
B. n = Z - A
0 D. None of the above is correct.

Additional Activities
Direction: Complete the table below by supplying the necessary data.
ISOTOPES OF THE ELEMENTS HYDROGEN AND CARBON:

Element Symbol p+ e- n0

𝟏
𝟏𝑯

Hydrogen 𝟐
𝟏𝑯

𝟑
𝟏𝑯

𝟏𝟑
𝟔𝑪

Carbon 𝟏𝟒
𝟔𝑪
__________________________
Maderal C, Domingo C, Anir R. CHEMISTRY SKILL BUILDERS AND EXERCISES,Great Minds Book Sales Inc.(2005)

Lesson Naming and Writing

2 Chemical Formula

In Lesson 1, you have learned the classifications of properties of matter. Remember the
importance of knowing these properties because it helps us to recognize and distinguish a
particular substance into another substance. Also, it is the properties of the material enable us
to know the combination of substances in order to create another substance/s.
6
 What’s In
In this lesson, you are going to learn how to write chemical formula based on the properties of
the elements or substances to be involved in forming a compound.

In the early days of chemistry, a new compound was often named by its discoverer. The common
name usually describes a physical or chemical property of the substance or the source of the
compound. Unfortunately, it does not tell anything about the chemical composition of the
compound. As the science of chemistry developed, the need for a systematic method of naming
chemical compounds became apparent because of the millions of compounds discovered.

What’s New
Activity 2.0. GIVE ME MY NAME!
Direction: Given a chance to give me name, what name are you going to give me. Give a brief
explanation why you wanted that name for me.

My name is

Why you gave me that name?

What is It
Learning to name and
write formulas for
chemical compounds
requires practice with
immediate feedback to
help you learn from
mistakes.
1. Your first step is to
learn how to tell what
type of compound you
have. This is something
you need to master
before naming or writing
chemical formulas. Make
sure you can tell the
difference between
metals, nonmetals, and
metalloids on the
Periodic Table.
2. Once you know the
type of compound you
can apply the rules
specific to that type of
compound.
https://www.google.com
3. Practice until you are able to quickly identify the type of
compound (you'll need a Periodic Table) and correctly write the
name or formula.

7
IONIC COMPOUNDS
Each atom is unique because it is made of a specific number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Usually, the number of protons and electrons is the same for an atom. And while the number of
protons will never change for any atom, because this would mean you have a completely different
element, sometimes the number of electrons does change. When an atom gains or loses an
electron, we get an ion. Since electrons themselves have a net negative charge, adding or
removing electrons from an atom changes the charge of the atom. This is because the number of
electrons is no longer in balance with the number of protons, which have a positive charge.

Atoms that gain electrons and therefore have a net negative charge are known as anions.
Conversely, atoms that lose electrons and therefore have a net positive charge are called cations.
Cations tend to be metals, while anions tend to be non-metals. Ions may also be single atoms or
multiple, complex groups of atoms.

When we talk about ions, it's true that opposites attract. The opposite negative and positive
charges of the ions hold together in ionic bonds, forming ionic compounds, which are just what
they sound like: compounds made of ions. The loss or gain from one atom matches the loss or
gain of the other, so one atom essentially 'donates' an electron to the other atom it pairs up with.

Writing Empirical Formulas for Ionic Compounds

Although ionic compounds are composed of both positively and negatively charged ions, the
overall compound and its formula are electrically neutral. In other words:

total positive charge (from cation) = total negative charge (from anion)

Forgetting to follow this rule is one of the most common mistakes that students make when
writing formulas for ionic compounds.

The empirical formula for an ionic compound indicates the smallest whole number ratio of
cations and anions needed to produce an electrically neutral compound. The empirical formula
is written with the cation first followed by the anion.

To write the empirical formula for an

ionic compound:

1. Identify the cation.

Cation is written first in the name of
the compound.
2. Write the correct formula and charge for
the cation.
3. Identify the anion.
Anion is written last in the name of
the compound.
4. Write the correct formula and charge for
the anion. *https://study.com/academy/lesson/rules-for-naming-ionic-
compounds.html
5. Combine the cation and anion to
produce an electrically neutral compound.
• If the charges on the cation and anion are equal in magnitude (i.e. +1/-1, +2/-2, +3/-3),
combine the cation and anion in a 1:1 ratio.
• If the charges on the cation and anion are NOT equal in magnitude, use the charge on
the cation as the subscript for the anion. Use the charge on the anion (omitting the
negative sign) as the subscript for the cation.
• Place parentheses around a polyatomic ion if you need more than one of them in the final
formula.
• Do not show the charges of the ions when you write the final formula for the compound.
6. Make sure that the subscripts for the cation and anion are the smallest whole number ratio.
Example 1: Write the empirical formula for sodium carbonate.
1. The cation is written first: sodium ion (Na+)
2. The anion is written last: carbonate ion (CO32-)
3. Combine them to form an electrically neutral compound:
4. Since the charges are not equal in magnitude the charge of sodium ion (+1) becomes the
subscript for the carbonate ion. The charge of the carbonate ion (2-) becomes the subscript for
the sodium ion.
5. The final formula is Na2CO3
• Since only one carbonate ion is needed, the subscript "1" is omitted from the
formula.
8
 • Also notice that the charges of the ions are NOT shown when writing the final
formula.

Example 2: Write the empirical formula for aluminum sulfate.

1. The cation is written first: aluminum ion (Al3+)
2. The anion is written last: sulfate ion (SO42-)
3. Combine them to form an electrically neutral compound:
4. Since the charges are not equal in magnitude, the charge on the aluminum ion (+3) becomes
the subscript for the sulfate ion. The charge on the sulfate ion (-2) becomes the subscript for
the aluminum ion.
5. The correct formula is Al2(SO4)3.
• Notice that parentheses are placed around the sulfate ion to indicate that three
sulfate ions are needed.

Example 3: Write the empirical formula for lead (IV) oxide.

1. The cation is written first: lead (IV) ion (Pb4+)
2. The anion is written second: oxide ion (O2-)
3. Combine them to form an electrically neutral compound.
4. Since the charges are not equal in magnitude, the charge on the lead (IV) ion (+4) becomes the
subscript for the oxide ion. The charge on the oxide ion (-2) becomes the subscript for the lead
(IV) ion.
5. The initial formula that is written would be Pb2O4. Notice, however, that this is not the
empirical formula. Both subscripts can be divided by 2 giving the correct empirical formula,
PbO2.
Naming IONIC Compound
1. For monatomic cation naming is simply the name of the element followed by the word ion.
Example: Na+ is the sodium ion
Al3+ is the aluminum ion
Ca2+ is the calcium ion
2. Elements lose different numbers of electrons, producing ions of different charges. Iron, for
example, can form two cations, each of which, when combined with the same anion, makes a
different compound with unique physical and chemical properties. We need a different name for
each iron ion to distinguish Fe2+ from Fe3+. The same issue arises for other ions with more than
one possible charge.

There are two ways to make this distinction. The 1st system, more modern approach, called the
Stock System, an ion’s positive charge is indicated by a roman numeral in parentheses after
the element name, followed by the word ion. So, Fe2+ is called the iron(II) ion, while Fe3+ is
called the iron(III) ion. This system is used only for elements that form more than one common
positive ion. We do not call the Na+ ion the sodium(I) ion because (I) is unnecessary. Sodium
forms only a 1+ ion, so there is no ambiguity about the name sodium ion.
Element Stem Charge Modern Name Common Name
2+ iron(II) ion ferrous ion
iron ferr-
3+ iron(III) ion ferric ion
1+ copper(I) ion cuprous ion
copper cupr-
2+ copper(II) ion cupric ion
2+ tin(II) ion stannous ion
tin stann-
4+ tin(IV) ion stannic ion
2+ lead(II) ion plumbous ion
lead plumb-
4+ lead(IV) ion plumbic ion
2+ chromium(II) ion chromous ion
chromium chrom-
3+ chromium(III) ion chromic ion
1+ gold(I) ion aurous ion
gold aur-
3+ gold(III) ion auric ion

The second system, called the Common System, is not conventional but is still prevalent and
used in the health sciences. This system recognizes that many metals have two common cations.
The common system uses two suffixes (-ic and -ous) that are appended to the stem of the element
name. The -ic suffix represents the greater of the two cation charges, and the -ous suffix
represents the lower one. In many cases, the stem of the element name comes from the Latin
name of the element.
Ion Name
F1- fluoride ion
Cl1- chloride ion
Br1- bromide ion
I1- iodide ion
O2- oxide ion
S2− sulfide ion
P3− phosphide ion
N3− nitride ion
9
The name of a monatomic anion consists of the stem of the element name, the suffix -ide, and
then the word ion.
Example: Cl1- is “chlor-” + “-ide ion,” or the chloride ion
O2- is the oxide ion
Se2- is the selenide ion

Naming Binary Ionic Compounds with a Metal

that Forms Only One Type of Cation:
A binary ionic compound is
a compound composed of a
monatomic metal cation
and a monatomic nonmetal
anion.
Rule: The metal cation is
named first, followed by the
nonmetal anion.
Example:

Naming Binary Ionic

Compounds with a metal
that Forms More Than
One Type of Cation:
*https://chem.libretexts.org

If you are given a formula for an ionic compound whose cation can have more than one
possible charge, you must first determine the charge on the cation before identifying its
correct name. For example, consider FeCl 2 and FeCl3 . In the first compound, the iron
ion has a 2+ charge because there are two Cl 1- ions in the formula (1− charge on each
chloride ion). In the second compound, the iron ion has a 3+ charge, as indicated by the
three Cl1- ions in the formula. These are two different compounds that need two different
names. By the Stock system, the names are iron(II) chloride and iron(III) chloride.

*https://chem.libretexts.org

Naming Ionic Compounds with Polyatomic

Ions

The process of naming ionic compounds with

polyatomic ions is the same as naming
binary ionic compounds. The cation is
named first, followed by the anion.

*https://chem.libretexts.org

10
MOLECULAR COMPOUND

Water and diamonds - two very different materials. Water can be found almost everywhere. It is
in lakes, creeks, rivers, and oceans. We get water from the sky when it rains. Diamonds, on the
other hand, are very rare. They are only found in a few locations on the earth and must be mined
to become available.

The two materials do have at least one thing in common. The atoms in the materials are held
together by covalent bonds. These bonds consist of electrons shared between two or more
atoms. Unlike ionic bonds, where electrons are either lost or gained by an atom to form charged
ions, electrons in covalent compounds are shared between the two atoms, giving rise to properties
that are quite different from those seen in ionic materials.

Molecular compounds are chemical compounds that take the form of discrete molecules.
Examples are water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). These compounds are very different from
ionic compounds like sodium chloride (NaCl). Ionic compounds are formed when metal atoms
lose one or more of their electrons to nonmetal atoms. The resulting cations and anions are
electrostatically attracted to each other.

A binary molecular compound is a molecular compound that is composed of two elements.

In general, the elements that combine to form binary molecular compounds are both nonmetals.
This contrasts with ionic compounds, which involve bonds between metal cations and nonmetal
anions. One difference between ionic and molecular compounds is that two nonmetal atoms will
frequently combine with one another in a variety of ratios.

Naming Binary Molecular Compound:

➢ We use prefixes in the name of binary molecular compounds to differentiate between
compounds with different amounts of the same elements.
• The prefixes tell us how much of each element are present in 1 molecules of the
compound

Number of Atoms in Prefix on the Name of the

Compound Element
1 mono-*
2 di-
3 tri-
4 tetra-
5 penta-
6 hexa-
7 hepta-
8 octa-
9 nona-
10 deca-
➢ Confirm that the compound is a binary molecular compound
• The name must identify the elements in the molecule and the number of each atom
➢ Use prefixes to indicate the number of atoms
• If there is only 1 atom of the first element, do not use a prefix (OMIT MONO-)
➢ The second element should always have a prefix.
➢ The central atom is generally written first.
➢ The suffix of the 2nd element will always be –ide.
➢ Order of writing elements in a molecular form. The order of writing the elements is by
convention. The elements on the left go first and are followed by the elements on the
right.

Other Examples:
1. CO2 = carbon monoxide

2. N2O = dinitrogen monoxide

3. Cl2O8 = dichlorine octoxide

4. SF6 = sulfur hexafluoride

NAMING AND WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULA FOR

ACIDS AND BASES

https://chem.libretexts.org

11
Acid – a compound that contains one or more hydrogen atoms and produces H+
when dissolved in water
To name an acid:
➢ Think of the components of an acid as an anion and as many hydrogen ions that are
needed to balance the charge of the anion. (you are making the molecule electrically
neutral.)

➢ the general form of the chemical formula of an acid is

Hn X
where: n = the number of hydrogen ions combined with the anion
X = a monatomic or polyatomic anion
➢ (aq) must appear after the formula to be named as an acid

Study these examples, and determine the rules for naming acids:
Hint: relate the name of the anion, to the name of the acid.

Two types of acids:

A. Polyatomic Anions
• ________-ic acid (anion ends in –ate)
• ________-ous acid (anion ends in –ite)
B. Monatomic Anions
• hydro_________-ic acid
✓ The root of the anion name goes in the blank
➢ To write the formula for an acid, use the naming rules in reverse.
Naming BASES
Bases: A group of ionic compounds, that produce OH- ions when dissolved in water.
➢ Most strong bases contain hydroxide, a polyatomic ion. Strong bases are named
following the rules for naming ionic compounds.
Example: NaOH is sodium hydroxide
KOH is potassium hydroxide,
Ca(OH)2 is calcium hydroxide.
➢ Weak bases made of ionic compounds are also named using the ionic naming system.
Example: NH4OH is ammonium hydroxide.
➢ Weak bases are also sometimes molecular compounds or organic compounds because
they have covalent bonds. Therefore, they are named following the rules for molecular
or organic compounds.
Example: methyl amine (CH3NH2) is a weak base. Some weak bases have “common”
names. For example, NH3 is called ammonia; its name isn’t derived from any naming
system.

What’s More
Activity 2.1

A. Name the elements present in the given compounds.

1. Cu(NO3)2 ___________________________________________________________________

2. Fe3(AsO4)2 ___________________________________________________________________

B. Ca2Mg5(Si4O11)2(OH)2 -
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
C. Ca5(PO4)3(OH)2

12
B. Write the chemical formula for each of the compounds that will form from the given.

anion Cl1- O2- NO31- SO42- PO43-

cation
H1+

Ca2+

Fe2+

Fe3+

Al3+

NH41+

What I Have Learned

❖ In writing a chemical formula from a chemical name, it is helpful to remember the
following:
1. In an ionic compound, the net ionic charge is zero.
2. An -ide ending generally indicates a binary compound.
3. An -ite or -ate ending usually means there is a polyatomic anion in the formula.
4. Prefixes in the name generally indicate that the compound is molecular.
5. A Roman numeral shows the ionic charge of the cation.
❖ In naming ionic compounds, the cation is named first followed by the name of the anion.
❖ In naming binary molecular compounds, the less electronegative element is named first
and the name of the second element is given an -ide ending. Greek prefixes are used to
indicate the number of atoms of each element.
❖ Acids based on anions whose names end in -ide have the hydro- prefix and an-ic ending.
❖ Acids based on anions whose names end in -ate have an -ic ending. Acids based on
anions whose names end in -ite have an -ous ending. Prefixes in the name of the anion
are retained in the name of the acid.
❖ Strong bases contain hydroxide, a polyatomic ion. Strong bases are named following the
rules for naming ionic compounds.
❖ Weak bases are named following the rules for molecular or organic compounds.

What I Can Do
Activity 2.2
A. Write the chemical formula for each of the following molecular compounds.
_____________________1. Ammonia _____________________6. Boron trichloride
_____________________2. Sulfur trioxide _____________________7. Disulfur dichloride
_____________________3. Carbon dioxide _____________________8. Nitrogen trifluoride
_____________________4. Dinitrogen trioxide _____________________9. Dichlorine heptoxide
_____________________5. Phosphorous tribromide _____________________10. Tetraphosphoruos hexoxide

B. Write the chemical formula for each of the following Ionic compounds.

1. Zinc nitrate ______________________________

2. Iron (III) oxide ______________________________
3. Copper (I) oxide ______________________________
4. Calcium hydride ______________________________
5. Iron (III) carbonate ______________________________
7. Aluminum hydroxide ______________________________
8. Potassium dichromate ______________________________
9. Magnesium hydroxide ______________________________
10. Potassium permanganate ______________________________

13
 Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet
of paper.

1. What is the correct chemical formula of the compound potassium permanganate?

A. KMnO4 B. K2MnO4 C. KMnO3 D. K2MnO3
2. What is the correct chemical formula of the compound calcium sulfide?
A. CaS2 B. Ca2S C. Ca2S2 D. CaS
3. Name the compound C3H8.
A. Carbon hydrogen C. Tricarbon octahydride
B. Carbon hydride D. Carbon octahydride
4. Name the compound CaF2.
A. Calcium difluoride C. Calcium fluoride
B. Calcium bifluoride D. Calcium fluorine
5. What is the correct chemical formula of the compound copper (II) oxide?
A. CuO B. Cu2O C. Cu2O2 D. CuO2
6. Name the compound ZnS.
A. Zinc sulfur C. Monozinc monosulfide
B. Monozinc sulfide D. Zinc sulfide
7. The compound SiO2 ___________.
A. is an acid. B. is ionic. C. is a polyatomic ion. D. is binary.
8. HClO3 is ____________.
A. Chloric acid. B. Hydrogen chlorite. C. Hydrochloric acid. D. Chlorous acid.
9. The element Gallium _____________.
A. form either +2 or +3 ions. C. forms +2 ions.
B. forms +3 ions. D. forms ions.
10. Which of the following is a binary non-ionic compound?
A. MgO B. KOH C. AL2S3 D. SF6
11. What suffix is used on the second element in a two-element compound?
A. -ous B. -ic C. -ide D. -ate
12. What prefix is used if there are three atoms of an element in a given compound?
A. mono- B. tri- C. di- D. tetra-
13. If a compound is made from a metal element and a non-metal element, which
element goes first in the name?
A. Non-metal element C. It's alphabetical
B. Metal element D. It's based on their position in the Periodic Table
14. If a compound is made from two non-metal elements, which element goes first
in the name?
A. The element with the highest atomic number.
B. The element to the right of the Periodic table.
C. The element with the shortest name.
D. The element to the left of the Periodic table.
15. What is the common name for the compound dihydrogen monoxide?
A. Air B. Dirt C. Fire D. Water

14
 Additional Activities
Activity 2.3

Direction: Fill in the blank spaces in the table below. Choose from the options below.

Chemical Common
Chemical Name
Formula Name
Calcium
Hydroxide
CaO
Muriatic
Acid
Magnesium
Hydroxide
MgSO4

Laughing Gas
Potassium
Nitrate
NaHCO3

Soda Ash
Sodium
hydroxide
(NH4)CO3
Plaster of
Paris

OPTIONS:
Nitrous oxide slaked lime HCl
Calcium oxide saltpeter N2 O
Calcium Sulfate quick lime KNO3
Hydrochloric acid Epsom salt CaSO4
Sodium Carbonate baking soda NaOH
Magnesium Sulfate caustic soda Na2CO3
Sodium bicarbonate smelling salts Ca(OH)2
Ammonium carbonate milk of magnesia Mg(OH)2

15