.

NAMING AND WRITING IONIC CHEMICAL FORMULAS

Lesson 1. Binary, Ternary and Higher Compounds

Compounds are formed by chemical combination or union of two

or more different atoms. Compounds may be organic or inorganic in nature.

Inorganic compounds are substances that mostly derived from nonliving

things while the organic compounds are mostly derived from living things.

This module is limited only to inorganic compounds. Inorganic compounds

can be classified as binary, ternary and higher compounds.

Binary compounds are substances that consist of only two different

atoms. Ternary compounds contain three different atoms while higher

compounds are those that consist of more than three different atoms. The

table shown below illustrates some examples of the binary, ternary and higher

compounds.

Types of Inorganic Compounds

Binary Compound Ternary Compound Higher Compound

Na2O K2CO3 Mg ( HCO3)2
BaCI2 H2SO4 NaH2PO4
ZnS Ca3(PO4)2 CuSO4. 5H2O
SO3 Fe(OH)3 (NH4)2HAsO3
VI. Progress Check – up Test for Lesson 1

Identification. Write A if it is a binary compound, B, if it is a

ternary compound and C, if it is a higher compound.

___ 1. (NH4)2S ___ 6. BaCrO4 ___11. Cu2O

___ 2. KHCO3 ___ 7. Ca (OH)2 ___12. ( NH4)2C2O4

___ 3. HCN __ 8. MgCI2. 2H20 ___13. NaH2PO3

___ 4. H2O2 ___ 9. Ag2S ___14. NaBiO3

___ 5. H3PO3 ___10. KCNS ___15. MgCO3

VII. Lesson 2. Oxidation Numbers of Atoms in Chemical Compounds

Some of the rules that are given in Lesson 2 of Module 1 and in

other previous lessons will still apply to the new topics or lessons of Module 2.

These rules and the two additional rules will help you determine the oxidation

number or oxidation state of any atom in a compound.

Rule 1. The oxidation number of a monoatomic ion is the same

as the charge of the monoatomic ion.

Rule 2. Group IA atoms (H, Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) always have

oxidation numbers of +1 except for hydrogen which can have also a -1

oxidation number when it combines with a metallic atom like Li as LiH,

lithium hydride.

Rule 3. Group IIA atoms (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) always have

oxidation numbers of +2.

Rule 4. Group VIIA atoms (F, Cl , Br and I only) always have

oxidation numbers of -1 when they combined with metallic atoms.

 Rule 5. In most oxygen-containing ions and compounds, the

oxidation number of each O atom is always -2 except in peroxides which has

an oxidation number of -1.

Rule 6. Most metallic sulfur compounds without other atoms

combined, the sulfur atom has an oxidation number of -2.

Rule 7. .The oxidation numbers of Al, Zn, Ag and F atoms in any

chemical compounds and ions are respectively +3, +2, +1 and -1.

Rule 8. The sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms that

constitute a polyatomic ion is always equal to the charge of the polyatomic

ion. The charge of the monoatomic ion is the oxidation number of the atom.

Rule 9. The sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms that

constitute the chemical formula of a compound is always equal to zero.

Rule 10. Rule 8 can be stated in another way as the total positive

charges of the cation part or group is numerically equal to the total negative

charges of the anion part or group in the chemical formula of a compound.

To illustrate some of the above rules, study the examples that are

presented on the next succeeding pages.

Example 1.

What is the oxidation number of Mn atom in KMnO 4?

Solution: Since K is a member of Group IA elements in the

periodic table, the potassium atom has a charge of +1. Since the O atom is

not named as a peroxide but KMnO4 is read as potassium permanganate,

the oxygen atom here has an oxidation number of -2.

 By applying Rule 9, the mathematical equation obtained from the

given formula of the compound is: 1(K) + 1(Mn) + 4(O) = 0. The oxidation

number of K can be found using Rule 2 and the oxidation number of O atom

can be found using Rule 5. Substituting the oxidation numbers of K and O into

the equation, the equation becomes: 1(+1) +1(Mn) + 4(-2) = 0 and simplifies

into: 1 + Mn + (-8) = 0 or 1 + Mn - 8 = 0. By transposing or transferring all

the known quantities to the right side of the equation and changing their signs

into opposite signs, the equation becomes Mn = 0+ 8 -1 = 7 or +7.(positive7).

Therefore, the oxidation number of Mn atom in KMnO 4 is +7.

Example 2.

Find the oxidation number of P atom in Ca3(PO4)2.

Solution: There are 3 atoms of Ca, (2x1) atoms of P and(2x4 )atoms

of O in the given compound. Since Ca3(PO4)2 is not a peroxide, and it is

named as calcium phosphate. The oxidation number of O is -2 according to

Rule 5 and Ca atom is a member of Group IIA elements in the periodic table,

the oxidation number of Ca atom is always +2(Rule 3).

The mathematical equation that can be derived by applying Rule 9

is as follows: 3(Ca) + 2(P) + 8(O) = 0. Substituting the oxidation numbers

of Ca and O atoms, the equation becomes: 3(+2) + 2(P) + 8(-2) = 0 or

6 + 2P - 16 = 0. By transposition, the equation becomes 2P = 0 + 16 - 6

or 2P = 10. Dividing both sides of the equation by 2, the equation becomes

2P ═ 10 or P = 5 or +5. Therefore, the oxidation number of each P atom

2 2
is +5. This is the correct answer.
Example 3.

What is the oxidation number of each C atom in ammonium oxalate

with a chemical formula of (NH4)2C2O4?

Solution: There are (2x1) N atoms, (2x4) H atoms, 2C atoms and 4

O atoms in the given compound. The derived mathematical equation is 2(N)

+8(H) + 2(C) + 4(O) = 0. But we are not sure for the oxidation number of N

and Rule 9 can not be easily applied in solving the problem.

Rule10 can be used to solve easily the problem. The ionic charge of

ammonium ion is +1. The chemical formula of ammonium ion is NH 4.+1

Since there are two NH4 groups in the given formula, the total positive

charges of the cation part of the given formula is equal to 2( +1 ) or +2.

According to Rule10, the total negative charges of the anion part of the given

formula should be -2.

Since the C atom is found at the negative part of the given formula,

the sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms on the negative part of

the given formula is -2. The negative part , C2O4-2 is actually an oxalate

with a charge of -2. There are 2 C atoms and 4 O atoms in the negative

part of the given formula and the mathematical equation that can be derived

is : 2(C) + 4(O) = - 2. The oxidation number of O is -2 according to Rule 5.

Then the equation becomes 2C + 4(-2) = -2

Simplifying the equation, it becomes 2C - 8 = -2. By transposition,

the equation becomes 2C = -2+8 and then 2C =+6. By dividing this equation

by 2: 2C/2 = +6/2 , C=3. The final correct answer is +3.

VIII. Progress Check –up Test for Lesson 2

Give the oxidation number of the underlined atom in the following

chemical formulas of compounds.

1. H2C2O4 6. AgCIO3

2. Na3BO3 7. As2O5

3. CaCrO4 8. Mg3(AsO3)2

4. BaO2 9. Al2S3

5. Fe(BrO4)3 10. Zn(NO3)2

IX. Lesson 3. Naming and Writing of Chemical Formulas of Inorganic

Salts, Acids and Bases.

In naming an inorganic chemical compound, the cation part or the

least electronegative atom is named first and the anion part or the most

electronegative atom is named at the last.

The most electronegative atom or element generally increases from

left to right across a period of elements in the periodic table. It decreases

from top to bottom along a group or family of elements in the periodic table.

Generally, the atom which is located higher than another atom in the periodic

table is more electronegative atom. The atom which is located at the right

of another atom in the periodic table is generally more electronegative atom.

All nonmetallic atoms are more electronegative than metallic atoms. These

are the reasons why the common chemical compounds such as NaCl,

H2O, CO2, SO3, PCI3, P2O5, K2SO4, CaCO3, AIBr3, Fe(NO3)3, (NH4)2HPO4,

(NH4)2C2O4 and many others are written in that order.

There are few compounds that don’t follow the above rules, such
as ammonia, NH3 and chlorine dioxide, CIO2. In these cases, nitrogen and

chlorine atoms are expected to be more electronegative atoms than hydrogen

and oxygen atoms but they are written first instead at the last part of the

chemical formulas. Some of the rules from the previous lessons are still

applicable in writing and naming any inorganic chemical compounds correctly.

Inorganic salts, oxides, acids and bases can be binary, ternary and

higher compounds. In accordance with some of the rules, the names of all

inorganic binary salts begin with the metallic atoms, such as KCI (potassium

chloride). CaBr2 (calcium bromide), FeS ( ferrous sulfide ) or iron(II) sulfide,

Cr2S3 (chromic sulfide or chromium (III) sulfide) and many others. They end

always with “ide” that are attached to the root words of the names of

non-metallic atom forming always two-syllable word such as oxide, carbide,

phosphide, sulfide, nitride, fluoride and many others. For example, Mg 3N2

is named as magnesium nitride. Fe2O3 is named as ferric oxide in the

classical system and as iron (III) oxide in the Stock or Roman Numeral

System. A thorough review of the previous lessons about naming and writing

inorganic cation and anions is highly recommended. The chemical formula of

inorganic compound is composed of a cation group and the anion part

or group. Almost inorganic compounds, the cation part or group is named

and written first.

Inorganic compounds that contain any oxy anion are named in the

“ate” and “ite” forms of naming. The prefixes “per”, “hypo”, “di”, “bi” and words

like “acid” and “hydrogen” may be used sometimes The rules in naming
anions particularly to different forms of oxy anion are still very applicable in

naming inorganic chemical compounds. Therefore, a thorough review of the

rules from your previous lessons about naming different kinds of ions is highly

needed. For example, (NH4)3AsO4 and (NH4)3AsO3 are named as ammonium

arsenate and ammonium arsenite respectively. CaHAsO4 is named as calcium

acid arsenate, calcium hydrogen arsenate and calcium biarsenate while

CaHAsO3 is named as calcium acid arsenite, calcium hydrogen arsenite and

calcium biarsenite.

The chemical formula of all inorganic acids always begin with one or

more H atoms. Inorganic binary acids are named acids only when they are in

contact or dissolved in water, otherwise they are named in similar manner as

common inorganic binary compounds ending in the “ide” forms. For instance,

the formula HCl is not named as an acid but hydrogen chloride. If is written as

HCl(aq)., the subscript “aq” enclosed in parenthesis at the lower right. of the

formula indicates that it is dissolved in water and becomes acid. The name of

this acid is hydrochloric acid.

In general, inorganic binary acid names are derived from the names

of the negatively charged atom by changing the “ine” or “ide” names of the

negatively charged atom into “ic” and preceded by the prefix “hydro” attached

to the root word of the nonmetallic atom and the suffix “ic” is connected at its

end. The root word for chlorine or chloride is “ chlor “. The pattern for this type

of acid (binary acid) is hydro + chlor + ic + acid. HCl(aq) is named as

hydrochloric acid. Bromine, fluorine, iodine, sulfur and cyanide ion, (CN -1)
will follow the same pattern of naming acids.

The correct chemical formula for this type of acids, mostly binary

acids must always have subscript (aq) at its right. For instance, HCN (aq) is

named as hydro+ cyan(from cyanide ) + ic + acid = hydrocyanic acid. If this

compound is written as HCN alone, its name will be hydrogen cyanide gas.

In case for sulfur or sulfide, the root word is not sulf but it is still

sulfur that is used in the pattern of naming its acid form as hydrosulfuric

acid, H2S(aq). When the subscript (aq) is omitted in the formula, it is named

as hydrogen sulfide. The naming of oxy acids will require your knowledge

of naming different oxy anions.

The chemical formulas of inorganic acids are always preceded by 1

or more hydrogen atoms. Then the components of any oxy acid is H +

oxy anion. The oxy acids usually do not require the subscript (aq) on their

formulas. The general patterns of naming an oxy acid are as follows:

Root word (principal atom) + ic + acid (for an “ate “ form of oxy anion)

Root word (principal atom) + ous + acid (for an “ite” form of oxy anion)

Some oxy acids have prefixes of “per” or “hypo” that are attached to

the beginning of the root words of the principal atoms of the oxy anions. The

above patterns of naming oxy acids becomes:

Per + root word of oxy anion + ic + acid (for an “ate” form of oxy anion)

Hypo + root word of oxy anion + ous + acid (for an “ite” form of oxy anion)

. For example, the root word for perchlorate ion, ClO 4-1 is “chlor”

since the principal atom is the chlorine atom. The oxy anion is an “ate
“form, then oxy acid name is per + chlor + ic + acid ( perchloric acid).

When the principal atom of the oxy anion is phosphorus or sulfur

the root word is phosphor or sulfur respectively. Note that the “ate” and “

ite “of the oxy anions are changed into “ic” and “ous” respectively. H 3PO3

and H2SO4 are named as phosphorous acid and sulfuric acid. HBrO is

an oxy acid that contains an oxy anion of hypobromite ion in which the

the principal atom is bromine. The root word of bromine is “ brom ” and

the oxy anion is an “ite” form. HBrO is named as hypobromous acid.

Inorganic bases are usually hydroxides, oxides and ammonia,

NH3, Metallic oxides when dissolved in water always formed basic hydroxides

solutions. The hydroxide ion, OH-1and oxide ion, O-2 are always named at the

last part after naming the metallic atom or the cation part of the compound.

For example, Fe(OH)3 is named as ferric hydroxide in the classical system

of naming compounds. In the Stock system or Roman Numeral system, it

is named as iron (III) hydroxide. FeO and Fe2O3 are named as ferrous

oxide and ferric oxide respectively in the classical system. In the Stock

system, their names are iron(II) oxide and iron(III) oxide

respectively.

Inorganic salts can be oxy compounds. They contain oxy anions

The oxy anion is named at the last after naming the metallic atom or the

cation part of the salt compound. For example, Na 2CO3, is named as sodium

carbonate. FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3 are named as ferrous sulfate and ferric

sulfate respectively in the classical system. In Roman Numeral system, they

are as iron (II) sulfate and iron (III) sulfate respectively. Most metallic atoms

have more than one possible oxidation numbers. If metallic atom has the

lowest oxidation number, the name of the metallic atom is in the “ous” form.

If the metallic atom has the next higher oxidation number than the “ous” form,

the metallic atom is in the “ic” form. For example, the possible oxidation

numbers of a chromium atom are +2, +3 and+6. Cr +2 is named as chromous

ion and Cr+3 is named as chromic ion. Sometimes, the chemical formula of a

particular compound has one or more H2O that are attached at the end of the

formula by means of a dot. This compound is called a hydrate or hydrated

compound. The attached water molecule is known as water of crystallization

or hydration. The number of water of hydration is named after mentioning the

name of the given compound by Greek prefixes such as mono, di, tri, tetra,

penta, hexa, hepta, octa, nona, deca, undeca, dodeca and so on.

For instance, CuSO4 . 5H2O and BaCl2 .10 H2O are named as cupric

sulfate pentahydrate or copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate and barium chloride

decahydrate.

The chemical formulas of inorganic compounds are said to be

correctly written if Rule 9 and Rule 10 are obeyed or satisfied or followed.

Mastery of writing and naming the different types of ions are of great help in

naming and writing the chemical formulas of many inorganic compounds.

For example, the correct chemical formula of zinc phosphate can be

derived by using some rules and principles that had been learned from the

previous lessons. Supposed, the formula of phosphoric acid is known or

given as H3PO4, the ionic charge of phosphate ion can be obtained because

hydrogen atom has an oxidation number of +1 according to a particular rule.

Since there are 3 H atoms in the given acid, the positive part of the given

acid has a total charge of 3(+1) or +3 and therefore the phosphate group of the

given acid has a total charge of -3 (Rule 10, Lesson 2, Module II). So, the

phosphate ion has a charge of -3. Since Zn atom in any compound has an

oxidation number of +2(Rule 7, Lesson 2, Module II). The correct formula of

zinc phosphate can be obtained as follows: Zn+2 + ?PO4-3 = 0 charge or

3(Zn)+ 2(PO4)= 0 or 3(+2) + 2(-3)= 0 or +6 - 6 = 0 Rule10 is being satisfied.

Therefore, there should be 3Zn atoms and 2(PO 4) groups in the formula of

zinc phosphate. The correct chemical formula of zinc phosphate is Zn3(PO4)2.

In general, if the number of polyatomic cation or anion is more than

one in the correct formula, the polyatomic ion is enclosed by parenthesis and

the number of the polyatomic ion is written as subscript outside the closed

parenthesis. If it is monoatomic, no parenthesis is needed and the number of

the monoatomic ion is written as subscript at the right side of the atom.

For example, the ammonium ion combines with the biphosphate ion

to form ammonium biphosphate. The mathematical expression for this

combination is: 2(NH4+1) + 1(HPO4-2) = 0 or 2(+1) + 1(-2) = 0. The correct

chemical formula of the compound is (NH4)2HPO4. The cation group, NH4+1

is a polyatomic ion, and there are 2 NH4+1 needed to form the compound, so

it is enclosed in the parentheses with a subscript 2. The anion group, HPO 4-2

is also a polyatomic ion but only one HPO4-2 ion is needed, it is not enclosed
in parentheses. This problem would be easier and faster if a periodic table is

available. The common polyatomic ions that are frequently used in writing the

chemical formulas of inorganic compounds are presented on the table shown

below.

The Common Inorganic Ions

Chemical Chemical Formula Chemical Name Chemical

Name Formula

Acetate ion CH3COO-1/ Ac -1 Nitrite ion NO2-1

Ammonium ion NH4+1 Oxalate ion C2O4 -2
Arsenate ion AsO4 -3 Permanganate ion MnO4 -1
Arsenite ion AsO3 -3 Phosphate ion PO4 -3
Bismuthate ion BiO3 -1 Phosphite ion PO3 -3
Borate ion BO3 -3 Pyrophosphate ion P2O7-4
Carbonate ion CO3 -2 Silicate ion SiO3 -2
Chromate ion CrO4 -2 Sulfate ion SO4 -2
Chromite ion CrO2 -1 Sulfite ion SO3 -2
Cyanide ion CN -1 Thiosulfate ion S2O4 -2
Cyanate ion CNO -1 Thiocyanate ion CNS -1
Dichromate ion Cr2O7 -2 Zincate ion ZnO2-2
Hydroxide ion OH -1 Aluminate ion AlO2-1
Manganate ion MnO4 -2 Perbromate ion BrO4-1
Nitrate ion NO3-1 Molybdate ion MoO4-2

Other polyatomic ions can be derived from some of the above ions in

the table. For example, from PO3-3, one or two H atoms can be attached

before the given formula to form polyatomic ions. HPO 3-2 and H2PO3-1 are

formed and HPO3-2 can be named as biphosphate ion or hydrogen phosphite

ion or acid phosphite ion. The H2PO3-1 is named as dihydrogen phosphite

ion. These regular patterns are presented already on the previous lessons

and can also be applied to derived some polyatomic anions or oxy anions

particularly those with prefixes of “per“ and “hypo” of Group VIIA atoms.

X Progress Check-up Test for Lesson 3

A . Write the correct chemical formulas of the names of compounds

given below.

1. Hydroiodic acid 4. Ferrous sulfate hexahydrate

2. Aluminum oxide 5. Cobalt (III) dihydrogen phosphate

3. Arsenous acid

B. Name the following inorganic chemical formulas given below.

1. Ca(ClO)2. 4H2O 3. HBrO 4 5. KHCO3

2. (NH4)2HAsO3 4. Sn(OH)4

XI. Mastery Check-up Test for Module 2

Multiple Choice. Choose the correct answer by encircling the

letter of your choice.

1. The following oxides are peroxides except,

a. Na2O2. b. BaO2. c. H2O2. d. MnO2.

2. Which formula given below indicates a ternary salt ?

a. NaHSO4 b. Ca(HSO4)2 c. MgSO4 d. BaHPO4

3. Which one is not a binary acid ?

a. HCl(aq.) b. HCN(aq.) c. H2S. (aq) d. HI(aq.)

4. The chemical formula that does not belong to the binary compound is

a. Na2S. b. CaC2. c. HCN. d. NH 3.

5. The acid which does not belong to ternary compound is

 a. H2CO3. b. H2S(aq.). c. H3BO3. d. HCN(aq.).

6. When an atom has no subscript number at its lower right, it means

that the number of its atom is

a. zero. b. one. c. arbitrary. d. b and c.

7. Which one is not a salt ?

a. (NH4)2SO4 b. HBr c. KCl d. NaNO 3

8. The chemical formula of oxides which will become basic in water

solution is

a. SO2. b. P2O5. c. NO2. d. K2O.

9. What is the formula of aluminum hydroxide ?

a. Al3(OH)2 b. Al2(OH)2 c. Al2(OH)3 d. Al(OH)3

10. Arsenic acid has a formula of H3AsO4. Tin (IV) chloride has a formula

of SnCl4. Which is the correct formula of Tin (IV) arsenite heptahydrate?

a. Sn(AsO4)3.7H2O c. Sn3(AsO3)4.7H2O

b. Sn3(AsO4)2.7H2O d. Sn4(AsO3)2.7H2O

11. The oxidation number of He atom in gaseous state is

a 0. b. -1. c. +1. d. either b and c.

12. What is the oxidation number of F atom in lithium aluminum fluoride

 with a formula of LiAl F4 ?

a. +2 b. +3 c. -2 d. -1

13. The chemical formula for ammonium ion is NH 4+, what is the

oxidation number of nitrogen atom ?

a. +4 b. -4 c. +3 d. -3

14. In Fe2(CO3)3, the iron has an oxidation number of

a. +2. b. +3. c. +5. d. +4.

15. The formula for a chemical fertilizer is (NH4)2SO4 and for the truck

battery solution is H2SO4. What is the oxidation number of the

nitrogen atom in the fertilizer ?

a. -1 b. -3 c. +2 d. +3