CHEMICAL FORMULAS

Learning Goals
 Write chemical formulas.
 Determine the total number of each type of
atom in a chemical formula.
 Represent compounds using chemical
formulas, structural formulas and models.
 Give the similarities and differences between
the empirical formula and molecular formula
of a compound
Forming Compounds
Sodium is an extremely
reactive metal that dulls
almost instantly upon
exposure to air.
Forming Compounds
Chlorine is a yellow gas
with a pungent odor. It is
highly reactive and
poisonous.
Forming Compounds
The compound formed
by sodium and chlorine
is table salt.
The properties of a compound are, in
general, different from the properties
of the elements that compose it.
Chemical Formulas
A chemical formula indicates the elements present in a
compound and the relative number of atoms of each.
 For example, H2O is the chemical formula for water; it
indicates that water consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms
in a 2:1 ratio.
The formula contains the symbol for each element,
accompanied by a subscript indicating the number of
atoms of that element. By convention, a subscript of 1 is
omitted.
Chemical Formulas
What are the element ratios for these
common chemical formulas:
 NaCl

 CO2

 C12H22O11
Chemical Formulas
The subscripts in a chemical formula are
part of the compound’s definition—if
they change, the formula no longer
specifies the same compound.
Chemical Formulas
Chemical formulas list the most metallic
elements first.
 The formula for table salt is NaCl, not
ClNa.
In compounds that do not include a
metal, the more metal-like element is
listed first.
Chemical Formulas
Among nonmetals, those to the left in the
periodic table are more metal-like than those to
the right and are normally listed first.
 We write NO2 and NO, not O2N and ON.
Within a single column in the periodic table,
elements toward the bottom are more metal-
like than elements toward the top.
 We write SO2, not O2S.
Chemical Formulas

There are a few historical exceptions in

which the most metallic element is not
listed first, such as the hydroxide ion,
which is written as OH–.
Practice
Write a chemical formula for each
compound:
 The compound containing two aluminum
atoms to every three oxygen atoms
 The compound containing three oxygen
atoms to every sulfur atom
 The compound containing four chlorine atoms
to every carbon atom
Polyatomic Ions
Some chemical formulas contain groups of
atoms that act as a unit. When several groups
of the same kind are present, their formula is
set off in parentheses with a subscript to
indicate the number of that group.
 Mg(NO3)2 indicates a compound containing one
magnesium atom (present as the Mg2+ ion) and two
NO3– groups.
Polyatomic Ions
Many of these groups of atoms have a
charge associated with them and are called
polyatomic ions.
To determine the total number of each type
of atom in a compound containing a group
within parentheses, multiply the subscript
outside the parentheses by the subscript for
each atom inside the parentheses.
a) CO2
The C indicates that it has one carbon atom.
The O2 indicates that it has two oxygen
atoms.
Note that the subscript, in this case 2, is
only for the oxygen atom just before it. It
does not affect the carbon atom.
b) 2NH3
For each NH3 molecule, the N indicates that it has
one nitrogen atom and the H3 indicates that it has
three hydrogen atoms.
The number 2 in front (called the coefficient)
indicates that there are two NH3 molecules.
So, in total, there are two nitrogen atoms and six
hydrogen atoms.
c) 3CH3OH
Each CH3OH molecule has one carbon atom, four
hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
The coefficient of 3 in front indicates that there
are three CH3OH molecules.
So, in total, there are three carbon atoms, twelve
hydrogen atoms and three oxygen atoms.
d) Ba(NO3)2
If you have a bracket then the subscript
must be multiplied into all the atoms in the
bracket. (NO3)2 would mean that there are
two nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms.
So, in total, there are one barium atom,
two nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms.
 e) 2Al2(SO4)3
(SO4)3 would mean that there are three sulfur atoms
and twelve oxygen atoms.
The coefficient of 2 in front indicates that there are two
Al2(SO4)3 molecules.
So, in total, there are four aluminum atoms, six sulfur
atoms and 24 oxygen atoms.
Practice
Mg(NO3)2

 Mg = ____

 NO3 = ____

▪ N = ____

▪ O = ____
Practice
Mg3(PO4)2

 Mg = ____

 P = ____

 O = ____
Practice
Al2(SO4)3

 Al = ____

 S = ____

 O = ____
Example:
How many atoms of each element are in the
following chemical formulas?
a) CO2
b) 2NH3
c) 2CH3OH
d) Ba(NO3)2
e) 2Al2(SO4)3
The 5 Steps for writing an ionic compound
formula:
(I)Write the symbols of the two elements.
(II)Write the valence of each as
superscripts.
(III)Drop the positive and negative signs.
(IV)Crisscross the superscripts so they
become subscripts.
(V)Reduce when possible.
Formula for boron oxide
1. Write the symbols of the two
elements.

BO
Formula for boron oxide
2. Write the valence for each element.

B O +3 -2
Formula for boron oxide
3. Drop the positive & negative sign.

B O +3 -2
Formula for boron oxide
4. Crisscross the superscripts so they
become subscripts.

B O+3 -2
Formula for boron oxide
4. Crisscross the superscripts so they
become subscripts.

B2 O3
Formula for boron oxide
5. Reduce subscripts when possible.
(not possible here)

B2 O3
Examples of Reduction of Subscripts:
Sr2O2
Al3P3
Pb2O4
 Ba3N2
Evaluation:

Write the Chemical formula of the

following:
1. Magnesium Phosphide
2. Potassium Chloride
3. Aluminum Sulfide
4. Aluminum Arsenide
5. Barium Nitride
How to Write Covalent Compound Formulas

Writing covalent compounds involves the

use of Greek prefixes. The prefixes are used
to indicate the amount of each atom in the
compound. The first element never uses
the prefix mono-, but does use all others. If
no prefix is used before the first element's
name, there is only one of that element.
The second element uses all prefixes.
 Covalent Prefixes

1 mono-
2 di-
3 tri-
4 tetra-
5 penta-
6 hexa-
7 hepta-
8 octa-
9 nona-
10 deca-
Formula for dinitrogen pentasulfide

1. Look at the first word of the

compound's name. Identify the element
name. Write the symbol for this element.
 N
Formula for dinitrogen pentasulfide
2. If the first name of the compound has
a prefix, write the number the prefix
refers to as the symbol’s subscript.

N2
Formula for dinitrogen pentasulfide
3. Look at the second word in the
compound's name and identify the element.
Only the root of the element's name is used
so the ending will be different. Write the
symbol for the element referred to.

N2S
Formula for dinitrogen pentasulfide
4. Determine the number that the prefix
of the second name refers to and write
this number after the second symbol as
a subscript.

N2S5
Example #1: phosphorus
pentachloride is written PCl5

Example #2: dihydrogen monoxide

is written H2O
Writing the Formula with Multivalent
Metals
Metals With Multiple Ions

Transition Metals
What is multivalent in chemistry?

Having more than one valency or having

a valency greater than 3; polyvalent.
Rules for writing the chemical formula with
multivalent metals:

• 1.Find the charge of the metal ion from the

roman numeral used in the formula.
• 2. Find the charge of the nonmetal from the
periodic table.
• 3. Balance the charges so the net charge is
zero. You may have to find the lowest
common multiple to determine the total
charge.
Example 1

Write the formula for copper(ll) chloride.

1. Roman numeral ll = charge on the copper ion is +2.
2. The charge on the chlorine is -1.
3. We need two chlorine ions to make the chloride
charge -2.
 The chemical formula is CuCl2. This multivalent
metal compound requires one ion of copper and two
ions of chlorine.
Example 2
Write the formula for lead(IV) sulphide.
1. Roman number IV = charge on the lead ion is +4.
2. The charge on the sulfur is -2.
3. Tomake the charges equal, we need two sulfur
ions to make the negative charges equal four, to
balance out the positive charges of the lead ions.
 The formula is PbS2.
EXAMPLES
FORMULA WRITING FOR
ACIDS
TWO ELEMENTS
Hydro + stem + ic
1. Write H
2. Use the stem to find elements name
on the periodic table.
3. Balance the charges
Examples:
1. Hydrochloric acid
H, Cl
H+1 , Cl -1
HCl
2. Hydrofluoric acid
HF
THREE ELEMENTS
Use the common ION Table

Stem + ic
1. Write the ion: stem + ate
2. Look up ion on the ion tables
3. Write H and then the ion formula
4. Balance the charges
Examples:
1. Nitric Acid
Nitrate- NO3 -1
H+1, NO3 -1
HNO3

2. Sulfuric Acid

Sulfate - SO4 -2

H+1, SO4 -2
H2SO4
THREE ELEMENTS
Stem + ous

1. Write the ion: stem + ite

2. Look up ion on common Ion Table.
3. Write H and then the ion formula.
4. Balance the charges
Examples
1. Phosphorous Acid
Phosphite -PO3 -3
H+1, PO3 -3

H3PO3
2. Chlorous Acid

chlorite- ClO3-1

H+1, ClO3-1
HClO3