VALENCY

The combining capacity of an atom of an element or a radical is called its

valency. It is measured in terms of hydrogen atom or chlorine atom or double
the number of oxygen atom which combine with one atom of that element.

For example:-
Valency of an atom of the element with respect to hydrogen (H) atom:
In HCl, valency of chlorine (Cl) atom is 1 (Because one atom of Chlorine combines
with one atom of Hydrogen atom.)
In H₂O, valency of O (Oxygen) atom is 2.(Because in H₂O one atom of Oxygen
combines with 2 atoms of Hydrogen.)
In NH₃ (Ammonia), valency of N is 3. Because one atom of N (Nitrogen) in NH₃
combines with 3 atoms of H (Hydrogen).

Valency of an atom of the element with respect to chlorine (Cl) atom:

In MgCl₂ (Magnesium chloride), valency of Mg (Magnesium) is 2.

Valency of an atom of the element with respect to oxygen (O) atom:

In CO₂ (carbon dioxide) gas, valency of C (carbon) is 4 because 1 carbon(C) atom
combines with two atoms of oxygen. So valency of C (carbon) is 2×2=4.

A chemical formulae is made up of two parts →

I. Positive or Base Radicals II. Negative or Acid Radicals.
I. Positive or Base Radicals: They have positive charge and are also called
cations. All metallic ions and ammonium ions are basic radicals.
II. Negative or Acid Radicals: They have negative charge and are also called
anions. Most of the non-metallic ions and groups of the non-metallic atoms
with negative charge are Acid Radicals.
For example → In NaCl, Na is a Positive Radical and Cl is a Negative Radical.
Sodium ion is positively charged while chloride ion is negatively charged
represented by the symbols Na⁺ and Cl⁻ respectively. The charge on these radicals

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 show their combining capacity i.e., valency. These radicals keep their identity in
many reactions.

Name of Some Basic (Positive) Radicals & Their Valencies. :-

S. No. NAME OF THE BASIC REPRESENTATION VALENCY

RADICALS
1. Hydrogen H⁺ 1
2. Lithium Li⁺ 1
3. Sodium Na⁺ 1
4. Potassium K⁺ 1
5. Ammonium NH₄⁺ 1
6. Magnesium Mg²⁺ 2
7. Calcium Ca²⁺ 2
8. Zinc Zn²⁺ 2
9. Barium Ba²⁺ 2
10. Aluminium Al³⁺ 3
11. Chromium Cr³⁺ 3
12. Copper (I) or Cuprous* Cu⁺ 1
13. Copper (II) or Cupric* Cu²⁺ 2
14. Iron (II) or Ferrous* Fe²⁺ 2
15. Iron (III) or Ferric* Fe³⁺ 3
16. Mercury (I) or Mercurous* Hg⁺ 1
17. Mercury (II) or Mercuric* Hg²⁺ 2
18. Stannous* or Tin (II) Sn²⁺ 2
19. Stannic* or Tin (IV) Sn⁴⁺ 4
20. Lead (II) or Plumbous* Pb²⁺ 2
21. Lead (IV) or plumbic* Pb⁴⁺ 4
22. Silver Ag⁺ 1
23 Manganese Mn2+ 2
24 Gold Au3+ 3
25 Platinum (IV) Pt4+ 4

*Some elements have variable valencies (having more than one valency). The
element having less valency, suffix ‘-ous’ is added with their names. While the
elements having greater valency suffix '-ic' is added with their names.
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Name of Acid (or, Negative) Radicals, and their Valencies →

S.No. NAME OF THE ACID RADICALS REPRESENTATION VALENCY

1. Hydride H⁻ 1
2. Chloride Cl⁻ 1
3. Bromide Br⁻ 1
4. Iodide I⁻ 1
5. Fluoride F⁻ 1
6. Hydroxide OH⁻ 1
7. Nitrite NO₂⁻ 1
8. Nitrate NO₃⁻ 1
9. Nitride N³⁻ 3
10. Carbonate CO32- 2
11. Bicarbonate or Hydrogen carbonate HCO₃⁻ 1
12. Sulphate SO₄²⁻ 2
13. Bisulphate or Hydrogen sulphate HSO₄⁻ 1
14. Sulphite SO₃²⁻ 2
15. Bisulphite HSO₃⁻ 1
16. Sulphide S²⁻ 2
17. Bisulphide HS⁻ 1
18. Hypochlorite ClO⁻ 1
19. Chlorate ClO₃⁻ 1
20. Manganate MnO₄2⁻ 2
21. Permanganate MnO₄⁻ 1
22. Cyanide CN⁻ 1
23. Oxide O²⁻ 2
24. Peroxide O₂²⁻ 2
25. Dichromate Cr₂O₇²⁻ 2
26. Chromate CrO₄²⁻ 2
27. Silicate SiO₃²⁻ 2
28. Phosphide P³⁻ 3
29. Phosphite PO₃3⁻ 3
30. Phosphate PO₄³⁻ 3
31. Carbide C⁴⁻ 4
32. Zincate ZnO₂²⁻ 2
33. Acetate CH₃COO⁻ 1
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 34. Aluminate or, Meta-aluminate AlO₂⁻ 1
35. Carbonate CO32- 2
36. Borate BO33- 3
37. Oxalate (COO)22- 2
How to write a chemical formula?(Rules for writing the
formulae of molecular compounds) :

1. First write the symbols of the elements which form the compound.
2. Write down the valency of each element below its symbol.
3. Finally, we cross- over (or criss- cross) the Valencies of the combining atoms
i.e., with the first atom we write the valency of the second atom (as a
subscript) and with the second atom we write the valency of the first atom (as
a subscript). This will give us the required formula.

For example we have to write the formula of Aluminium sulphate:

Al SO₄
个 个
3 2

So, the formula of aluminium sulphate will be Al₂ (SO₄)₃.

Similarly the chemical formula of Iron (III) oxide: Fe₂O₃

Fe O
个 个
3 2
While writing a formula, if both the radicals have same valencies, they are
changed into the simplest ratio.
For example formula of Calcium sulphate is: CaSO₄.
Ca SO₄
个 个
2 2
If both the Radicals in a chemical formula have valencies 1, or in a formula
one Radical has valency 1 another has valency more than one (e.g., 2, 3, 4), then
only greater valency is shown in the formula, valency 1 is not shown in the
formula.
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 For example 1. Chemical formula of 'Sodium chloride’ is NaCl
Na Cl
个 个
1 1
Example 2. Write the chemical formula of Magnesium chloride.

Valency of Magnesium is 2 and valency of chlorine is 1.

First we write the symbols of the Radicals, put valencies under the symbols then
criss-cross (or, cross-over) the valencies.
Mg Cl
个 个
2 1
So, the formula of magnesium chloride is MgCl₂.

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