KALINGA STATE UNIVERSITY – CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS 2023

Chapter 4. NAMING AND WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULAS

Knowing how to write and name chemical formulas is not just a theoretical skill; it is a practical
necessity for anyone working in the field of chemistry. It enables effective communication, accurate
representation of substances, safety, research, and a deeper understanding of chemical processes and
interactions. Understanding how compounds are named based on their composition is crucial for
comprehending their applications and reactivity in subsequent discussions.

At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:

1. Identify the different types of chemical bonding;

2. discuss oxidation states needed in Formula Writing;
3. apply what are the rules of Formula writing for metal, compounds, and acids;
4. differentiate each type of chemical reactions;
5. use the rules in writing formulas in chemical reactions; and
6. balance each chemical reactions in the chemical equations.

CHEMICAL BONDING

Chemical bonding is the attractive forces that hold atoms together in compound. The electrons
involved in bonding are usually those in the outermost shell (valence electrons).

I. Ionic Bonding results from electrostatic attraction among ions, which are formed by the transfer of
one or more electrons from one atom to another. This type of bonding occurs between a metal with
non-metal (e.g., table salt).

II. Covalent Bonding is formed between two non-metals. This is created via electron sharing (e.g.,
water).

III. Metallic Bonding is created from a sea of free-flowing electron pairs between atoms, creating a pool
of electrons (e.g., copper wire).

Table 7. Comparison of Ionic and Covalent Compounds

Property Covalent Compounds Ionic Compounds
State could be in solid, liquid or gas
usually in solid form
form
Melting Point ≤ 300 ℃ ≥ 400 ℃
Solubility in Polar solvents generally insoluble generally soluble
Solubility in Non-polar solvents generally soluble generally insoluble
Conductivity in molten solids & conducts electricity (because they
does not conduct electricity
liquids contain mobile ions)
Conductivity in aqueous
poor conductor of electricity generally, conducts electricity
solutions

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Figure 8. Charged of Elements

IONS could be a single atom or a group of atoms that bears one or more positive or negative electrical
charges.

A. Cations are ions that are positively charged.

Table 8. Examples of Common Cations

Group 1 or Group 11 or IB Group 2 or IIA Group 12 or IIB Group 3 or IIIA
IA
+¿¿ +¿¿ 2+¿¿ 2+¿¿ 3 +¿¿
Li Ag Mg Zn Al
+¿¿ 2+¿ ¿ 2+¿¿
Na Ca Cd
+¿ ¿ 2+¿¿
K Sr
+¿¿ 2+¿¿
Rb Ba
Others:
+¿¿
N H4

Metals are commonly found to form cations with variable charges.

Table 9. Examples of Metals with variable charges

Old
Metal Symbol of Cation Stock System
System
+¿¿
Coppe Cu Cuprous Copper (I)
2+¿ ¿
r Cu Cupric Copper (II)
+¿¿
Au Auros Gold (I)
Gold 3+¿ ¿
Au Auric Gold (III)
2+¿ ¿
Sn Stannous Tin (II)
Tin 4 +¿¿
Sn Stannic Tin (IV)

B. Anions are negatively charged ions.

Table 10. Examples of Common Anions

Group 17 or VIIA Group 16 or VIA Group 15 or VA
−¿¿ 2−¿¿ 3−¿¿
F fluoride O oxide N azide/nitride
−¿¿ 2−¿¿ 3−¿¿
Cl chlorides S sulfide P phosphide
−¿¿ 2−¿¿
Br bromide Se selenide

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−¿¿ 2−¿¿
I iodide Te telluride
Polyatomic molecules are molecules that are composed of more than two elements or atoms.

Table 11. Examples of Polyatomic Anions

Formula Name Formula Name Formula Name
−¿ ¿
C H 3 CO O acetate C O3
2−¿¿ carbonate S2 O
2−¿¿
3
thiosulfate
3−¿¿ −¿¿ −¿¿
As O 4
arsenate HC O 3
bicarbonate NO 2
nitrite
−¿ ¿ 2−¿ ¿ hydrogen phosphate −¿¿
CN cyanide HP O 4 NO 3
nitrate
−¿¿ −¿ ¿ 2−¿¿
SCN thiocyanate H 2 P O4 dihydrogen phosphate O 2
peroxide
2−¿ ¿ −¿¿
Cr O 4 chromate HS O3 bisulfite PO 4
3−¿¿ phosphate
2−¿ ¿ −¿¿ 2−¿ ¿
Cr O7 dichromate HS O4 bisulfate SO 3 sulfite
−¿ ¿ 2−¿ ¿
C 2 O4
2−¿¿ oxalate Mn O 4
permanganate SO 4 sulfate

Polyanions are molecule-complexes that have negative charges.

Table 12. Example of Polyanions

Chlorine Bromine
−¿¿ −¿ ¿
Cl O4 perchlorate Br O4 perbromate
−¿¿ −¿ ¿
Cl O3 chlorate Br O3 bromate
−¿¿ −¿ ¿
Cl O 2
chlorite Br O 2
bromite
−¿¿ −¿ ¿
Cl O hypochlorite Br O hypobromite

Greek prefixes are attached to indicate the number of atoms present. Some examples are listed below.

Table 13. Greek Prefixes

Number of Atom/s Prefix Number of Atoms Prefix Number of Atoms Prefix
1 mono- 6 hexa- 11 hendeca-
2 di- 7 hepta- 12 dodeca-
3 tri- 8 octa- 13 triskaideca-
4 tetra- 9 nona- 14 tetrakaideca-
5 penta- 10 deca- 15 pentakaideca-

WRITING FORMULA

I. Binary Covalent Compounds are compounds made up of two elements formed by covalent
bonding.
A. Naming Binary Covalent Compounds.
1. Identify the elements present in the compounds.
e.g., C O2 carbon oxygen
The name of the more metallic element is written first. In the example, C (group 14) is
more metallic that O (group 16).

2. Change the suffix of the less metallic element to –ide.

e.g., C O2 carbon oxide
The –ygen is replaced with –ide.

3. Use the prefix corresponding to the number of atoms present in the compound.
e.g., C O2 carbon oxide or carbon dioxide
The mono- prefix is usually omitted for the first atom especially for well-known substances.

B. Writing chemical formulas of Binary Covalent Compounds.

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1. Represent each element in a compound with their symbol.

2. Using a subscript, indicate the number of atoms per element of the compound, as stated
by its prefix in the chemical name.
3. Write the symbol of the more metallic element first unless it is Hydrogen.

Examples: sulfur dioxide

This implies the presence of a sulfur atom and two atoms of oxygen present.

Symbol: S O2

Therefore, the chemical formula for sulfur dioxide is S O 2.

II. Ionic Compounds are compounds created via ionic bonding.

A. Naming Ionic Compounds.
1. Write the name of the cation before the name of the anion.
2. Prefixes are not used to indicate the number of ions present in the chemical formula.
Formul Name
a
KBr potassium bromide
Al I 3 aluminum iodide

The number of atoms per element is implied by the charges of the cation and the anion.

3. Most transition elements can exist in variable ionic forms so it is critical to know the charge
of the cations in the compound.
The chemical name of an ionic compound could be written in two ways:

Formula Old System Stock System

SnCl 4 stannic chloride tin (IV) chloride
Sn Br 2 stannous bromide tin (II) bromide

WRITING SYSTEMS:

 Old System of Nomenclature utilizes the Latin or Greek language in naming compounds.
For a cation with a greater charge, attach the suffix: –ic.
The cation with a lesser charge uses the suffix: –ous.

 Stock System of Nomenclature. The charge of the cation is written in Roman numeral within a
parenthesis after the English name of the cation. It is also followed by the name of the anion with
the suffix –ide on it.

B. Writing Chemical Formulas for Ionic Compounds

1. Write the symbol of the cation first then the symbol of the anion.
sodiu oxide
m
Symbol: Na O

2. Write the charge of each ion over the symbol of that ion.
+1 2-
Symbol Na O
:

3. Choose a subscript that will make the net charge zero.

+1 2- or Na2 O

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Symbol: Na O
“Crossed-over”: [ ( +1 ) ×2 ] + [ (−2 ) ×1 ] =0
Example: magnesium oxide
+2 2-
or Mg 2 O 2
Symbol: Mg O

If the subscripts could be divided, do so to simplify the formula (unless the actual formula
represented is known).
Final Formula: MgO

2−¿¿ 3−¿¿
If the anion is polyatomic (e.g., S O 4 , P O4 ) enclose first the anion in a parenthesis before
writing its corresponding subscript.
e.g., calcium phosphate

First step Ca2+¿ ¿

3−¿¿
P O4
Formula Ca3 ( P O 4 )2

The simplifying can only be applied to the crossed-over charges and NOT on the inherent
subscripts of atoms in a polyatomic anion.
e.g., sodium oxalate
First Na
2+¿ ¿ 2−¿¿
C 2 O4
step
Formula Na2 C 2 O 4 and not
NaCO2

III. Acids are substances that can donate protons to another substance. They are characterized by a
low pH value and are commonly used in various chemical reactions and industrial processes.

A. Naming Binary Acids.

Binary acids are composed of a hydrogen and an anion that is not oxyanion (an ion that has an
oxygen atom). They are named by placing a prefix “hyrdo” to the stem of the non-metal then
attaching the prefix “ic” to it before followed by the word “acid.”

e.g., HCl hydrochloric acid

Table 14. Example of Naming Pure acids vs. Dilute Acids

in aqueous
pure form
solution
HF hydrofluoric acid hydrogen fluoride
HBr hydrobromic acid hydrogen bromide

B. Naming Oxyacids. These anions are acids containing an oxygen atom.

1. If the name of the oxyanion ends in –ate, the name of the oxyacid will be of the form
________ic acid.
E.g.
Anions Name of Anions Acid Name of Acid
S O4
2−¿¿ sulfate H 2 SO4 sulfuric acid
−¿¿
Cl O4 perchlorate HCl O4 perchloric acid

2. If the name of the oxyanion ends in –ite, the name of the oxyacid will be of the form
________ous acid.
E.g.

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Anion Name of Anions Acid Name of Acid

s
S O3
2−¿¿ sulfite
H 2 SO3 sulfurous acid
−¿¿
Cl O hypochlorite HClO hypochlorous acid

TYPES OF CHEMICAL FORMULA

I. Empirical Formula
This is the simplest formula calculated from the percentage composition, which a compound may
have. It is the formula, which shows the ratio of the atoms to each other.

II. Molecular Formula

The formula which shows the total number of constituents in one molecule of the compound as
determined from the molecular weight and the empirical formula

III. Structural Formula

This is the representation of the arrangement of the atoms in the molecule of the
substance.

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Name: ___________________________________
Course & Section: _________________________
Date: ___________________________________

Chapter 4. WRITING AND NAMING CHEMICAL FORMULAS

I. Multiple Choice.
1. Which symbol/name combinations of elements is incorrect?
a. Uranium/U c. Iron/I
b. Sulfur/ S d. Nitrogen/N
2. Which symbol/name combinations of elements is incorrect?
a. C/carbon c. W/Tungsten
b. B/barium d. U/uranium
3. What is the chemical symbol for manganese?
a. Mn c. Ga
b. Mo e. Mg
4. How many atoms are in one mole of CH3OH?
a. 6 d. 3.6 x 1024
b. 6.0 x 1023 e. 3
c. 12.0 x 1023
5. Which of the following is the correct name of H2O?
a. Hydrogen hydride c. Dihydrogen hydride
b. Hydrogen hydroxide d. Dihydrogen oxide

II. Write the chemical formula or name the following compounds. WRITE Both the classical
and stock method of each chemical formula.
1. PbCrO4 8. magnesium chloride
2. ammonium monohydrogen phosphate 9. CoO
3. CoSO4 10. lithium bromide
4. Sr(ClO3)2 11. manganese (II) perchlorate
5. Cr(MnO4)2 12. silver chromate
6. MnSO4 13. Co4(SiO4)3
7. K4SiO4

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