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Naming Compounds and Writting Formulas Final

This document provides a comprehensive guide on naming binary and polyatomic compounds, including rules for ionic and covalent compounds. It outlines the steps for writing chemical formulas using valency, including the criss-cross method, and gives examples for clarity. Additionally, it explains the significance of diatomic elements and the role of transition metals in chemical nomenclature.

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2 views

Naming Compounds and Writting Formulas Final

This document provides a comprehensive guide on naming binary and polyatomic compounds, including rules for ionic and covalent compounds. It outlines the steps for writing chemical formulas using valency, including the criss-cross method, and gives examples for clarity. Additionally, it explains the significance of diatomic elements and the role of transition metals in chemical nomenclature.

Uploaded by

hanan.saad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Year 8

Chemistry
An Extended Elaboration sheet
on naming compounds and writing chemical
formulae

Name:---------------------------------------------
Class: ----------------------------------------------
Naming binary compounds
A binary compound is composed of two different elements only.

Ionic compound (Made up of a metal and a non-metal):


 The first component (always the metal) in the formula is simply identified with
the element name.
 The second component (always the non-metal) is named by taking the name of
the element stem and adding the -ide suffix.

 Examples: Sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, iron sulphide.

Covalent compounds (made up of 2 non-metals only):


 If one is hydrogen, it is named first.
 Otherwise, the one with the lower group number comes first.
 The second is named by taking the name of the element stem and adding the -
ide suffix.
 The number of atoms of each element in the compound is added as a prefix;
except mono is never used at the beginning of the name, even if the first atom is
single.
1 atom  Mono
2 atoms Di
3 atoms  Tri
4 atomsTetr
5 atoms Penta
6 atoms Hexa
Examples:

 Carbon dioxide CO2.


 Carbon monoxide CO.
 Sulfur trioxide SO3.
 Dinitrogen tetroxide N2O4.

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Naming polyatomic compounds
Ionic compounds (made up of a metal atom and non-metal radical):
Non-metal radical: is a group of non-metals made up of a non-metal and oxygen.
 The first component (always the metal) in the formula is simply identified with
the element name.
 The second component (always the non-metal) is named by taking the name of
the non-metal stem and adding the -ate suffix. (-ate shows that the compound
contains oxygen).
 Except Hydroxide (OH⁻) is called hydroxide.
 Except Ammonium (NH₄⁺) is the only radical that carries a valency of +1 and is
placed instead of the metal in the compound.

Examples:
Sodium nitrate NaNO3.
Magnesium sulphate MgSO4.
Aluminum hydroxide Al(OH)3.
Lithium carbonate Li2CO3.
Calcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2.

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Writing Chemical Formula of Binary Compounds using Valency

Formula: The formula contains the symbols of the elements or atoms that are
bonded together in the compound.

To write the formulae, the following information is needed:


Valency: depends on the number of electrons in the last shell gained or lost.

N.B.: The noble gases are


 Unreactive (don’t form covalent or ionic compounds).
 Have a full outermost shell (stable).
 Don’t lose or gain electrons.
 Have a valency of 0.

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Valency of transition metals is stated as a Roman numeral in the chemical
name.

Examples:

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 Some compounds have been known for so long with well-established
common names which include:

 Diatomic elements are unique because they are always found in nature as
molecules consisting of two atoms of the same element.

 In a chemical reaction, a single atom of these elements is never found as a


product or a reactant. Instead, they always form pairs, resulting in a
molecular formula with a subscript of 2. For example:

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Steps to Write a Chemical Formula:
Step 1: Identify the Atoms:
 Determine the elements involved in the compound.
 Write the Symbols: Look up each element in the periodic table and write its
symbol.
Step2: Determine Charges (Valency):
 Find the charge (valency) for each element. This can usually be found in the
periodic table according to the group number.
 For transition metals, include the charge using Roman numerals.
Step 3: Use the Criss-Cross Method:
 Switch the charges (valencies) of the elements to
determine the subscripts. The charge of one
element becomes the subscript for the other, and
remove the negative and the positive charge (only
the number).
 Equal Valencies: If the valencies are equal, they can
be removed, and no subscripts are needed.
Step 4: Write the Formula:
 Combine the symbols and subscripts from the
criss-cross method.
 If the nonmetal is a polyatomic radical, the radical
will be put between parentheses ( ) and the
subscript is written outside the parentheses.
 If a subscript is 1, it can be omitted.
Step 5: Simplify if Necessary:
If subscripts can be simplified (i.e., both can be divided by the same number), do
so.

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Example
Iron(III) Chloride (FeCl₃):

1. Identify the Atoms:


Elements: Iron and Chlorine.
Symbols: Fe and Cl.
2. Determine Charges (Valency):
Fe: +3 (Iron(III))
Cl: -1
3. Use the Criss-Cross Method:
Switch the charges: Fe becomes Cl₃ (subscript 3)
and Cl becomes Fe₁ (subscript 1).
This gives Fe₁Cl₃, which simplifies to FeCl₃.
If the valencies were equal (e.g., +2 and -2), the
subscripts would both be 1, and you would write
just the symbols (e.g., A₂B₂ would simplify to AB).

4. Write the Formula:


Combine: FeCl₃
5. Simplify if Necessary:
No simplification needed.
This results in the formula FeCl₃.

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