WRITING CHEMICAL Chapter 5: Molecules and

FORMULAS AND EQUATIONS Compounds

LEARNING GOALS/ OBJECTIVES
Review monoatomic and polyatomic radical table and formula
writing
Understand the parts of a chemical equation
Understand the types of chemical equations
Convert word equations to chemical equations
Convert chemical equations to word equations
Balance chemical equations
Memorize solubility rules
Write ionic/ precipitation reactions
Balance ionic reactions
Define, identify and delete spectator ions
Write net ionic reactions
REMEMBER THESE
A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are
chemically bonded together. ... Example 1: Pure water is a compound made
from two elements - hydrogen and oxygen.

An element is a substance whose atoms all have the same number of protons:
another way of saying this is that all of a particular element's atoms have the
same atomic number.

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that has the properties of an element. It
is composed of a dense core called the nucleus and a series of outer shells
occupied by orbiting electrons.
A valence shell is the last shell of atom. It houses an electron that can be
transferred to or shared with another atom.
DEFINITION OF CHEMICAL
FORMULA
A chemical formula is a way of presenting information about
the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a
particular chemical compound or molecule,
using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also
other symbols, such as parentheses(brackets), dashes, dots,and
plus (+) and minus (−) signs.
Dot represents an weak bond formed by water to the
compound. This is called water of crystallization.
If heat is applied this bond can break and water is
released as moisture/ steam.
WRITING FORMULAS FOR
IONIC COMPOUNDS
Ionic compounds always contain positive and negative ions. These
are a metal cation and a non metal anion. It has to have
these.
In the chemical formula, the sum of the charges of the cations must
always equal the sum of the charges of the anions.
STEPS FOR WRITING
FORMULAS FOR IONIC
COMPOUNDS/ FORMULA
UNITS
Step 1. Write the symbol for the metal and its charge first followed
by the symbol of the nonmetal and its charge.
Eg. We are bonding aluminum and oxygen.
WRITING FORMULAS
Step 2. Make the magnitude of the charge on each ion (without the
sign) become the subscript for the other ion. In summary SWITCH
THE CHARGES an write formula

Al 3
O 2-

+
Al2O3
2,8,3 2,6
WRITING FORMULAS
3. BRACKET IF YOU HAVE A POLYATOMIC ANION or
CATION AND YOU ARE SENDING DOWN A CHARGE OF
MORE THAN 1+ OR 1-
4. If possible, reduce the subscripts to give a ratio with
the smallest whole numbers and if the subscripts
are the same cancel them.
5. Check to make sure that the sum of the charges of the
cations exactly cancels the sum of the charges of the
anions.

Al2O3
NAMING IONIC COMPOUNDS
When writing ionic formulas the formula name consists of the
name of the two ions. The name of the metal cation comes first
and the name of the anion( non metal ion) comes second but the
last part of the name of the anion is changed to “ide
USE OF SUFFIX IN NAMES OF
IONIC COMPOUNDS
Suffix
Bi- Hydrogen is present in the compound Sodium bicarbonate
(NaHCO3)

-ide There are only 2 types of atoms present in Lead oxide (PbO)
the molecule. and carbon dioxide (CO2)

-ate There are 3 or more types of atoms in the Calcium carbonate

compound, and 1 type is oxygen (CaCO3)

NB. the names of both cation radical and

anion radical takes the name of both
radical in many cases. Yet there are special
cases
RULES CONTINUED
Switch the charges. If you have a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent
cation or anion bonding to a polyatomic anion or cation you must
bracket the polyatomic anion or cation when switching
charges if one ion in the formula has more than a +1 charge
Cancel out charges if both charges are the same numerically. If
they are not the same leave them. Do not write back the charge
symbol
Write the name of the formula
LETS PRACTICE WITH SOME
CATIONS AND ANIONS FROM THE
TABLE
Write the formulas and names for ionic compounds that form from
the following:
 Mg and O
 F and Li
 Ca and Cl
 N and K
 S and Al
 Iron (II) and Phosphate
 Zinc and Nitrogen
 Ammonium and Dichromate
WRITING FORMULAS WITH
POLYATOMIC ANION AND CATION
Recognize polyatomic ions in a chemical formula by becoming
familiar with these common polyatomic ions.
Just as we did with monoatomic ions, make sure that the charges
cancel out.
PRACTICE
Write the formula and name for the compound that forms from
calcium and nitrate ions.
PRACTICE
Write the formulae for ionic compounds that form from the following:
 aluminum and phosphate
 Sodium and carbonate
 Calcium and carbonate
 Aluminum carbonate
 sulfite and sodium
 Calcium and phosphate

 Convert the following formula to words( give their names)

 K2O
 CH3COONa
 Li2CO3
 Zn3(PO4)2
 Na3PO4
 MgCl2
WRITING THE FORMULAS OF
COVALENT MOLECULES
what is a covalent compound? It is called a
molecule and it only has two or more non
metal atoms sharing electrons with each other.
Important--carbon only forms covalent bonds. It
can form 4 covalent bonds as it is tetravalent.
What is the difference between an ionic compound
and a covalent molecule-
Note that hydrogen can be a cation if bonded to non-
metal and a anion if bonded to metals.
The formula of a covalent compound
gives the exact number of atoms of each
element in one molecule of the
compound i.e its molecular formula.
Moreover it is not necessary to know
valences as the name will give the
number of atoms by using a prefix.
 THE PREFIX TABLE ON THE BOARD

In naming a binary(binary compound is a substance composed of exactly two different elements, which are
substances that cannot be simplified further by chemical means) molecular compound, the number of atoms of each
element present in the molecule is noted by using prefixes. When
NamingPrefixthem Number of atoms Example
Mono 1 atom of that type of element in the Carbon Monoxide (CO)
molecule

Di 2 atom of that type of element in the Carbon dioxide(CO2)

Diphosphorous mono
molecule chloride ( P2Cl)
Tri 3 atom of that type of element in the Carbon trioxide(CO3)
molecule Use of suffix
Tetr or tetra 4 atom of that type of element in the Carbon
tetrachloride( CCl4 ) -ide Tells us that There are carbon dioxide (CO2)
molecule
only 2 types of atoms
Pent 5 atom of that type of element in the Vanadium present in the
molecule pentoxide( V2O5)
molecule
Hexa 6 atom of that type of element in the
molecule
7
hepta-

Octa 8

9
nona
10
Deca
The previous table will be used to explain the formation of the following compounds
CO is the formula for carbon monoxide
SO2 is the formula for sulphur dioxide
SO3 is the formula for sulphur trioxide

Steps in writing formula and names for covalent molecules

1. Asses the structure and determine how many atoms of each element exists in
the structure.
2. Write the Formula by writing the symbol of the central atom/ atoms first and the
other atoms next. Use subscripts to identify the number of each. Except water
3. Write the name of the formula by using the Prefixes that you have learnt. The
prefix comes before the element name when writing the name of chemical
formulas (See example 7). Please note there is no need to write mono if the first
element is only one but you must use mono if the second element is only
one( see example 5 and 6 ) .
4. Change the last part of the name of the second element in the formula to “ide”
5. E.g CO2 is carbon dioxide
6. Eg. CO is Carbon monoxide
7. Eg. Se2Br2
is diselenium dibromide
8. More examples on slide 21

The prefix is placed BEFORE THE ELEMENT TO WHICH IT IS REFERRING afterwards you must end word in the prefix -ide. If you don’t see a subscript for the first element in the formula write the name of the first element as seen in periodic table.

Special cases/ Special names--It is a good idea to learn the molecular formula of covalent compounds as you come across them as there are
exceptions to the above rules as some names cannot be derived from their compounds/molecules eg. H2S hydrogen sulphide, Ammonia(NH3),
PRACTICE
Name the following covalent molecules
N2O3 –
N2O4-
SF6-
XeF6-
CCl4 –
CF4-
SN-
CONVERT THE FOLLOWING FROM
WORD FORMULAS TO CHEMICAL
FORMULAS
Write the formula from the names of the covalent substances below
1. Selenium trioxide –
2. Carbon disulphide-
3. Carbon tetrabromide-
4. silicon dioxide-
5.silicon trioxide-
6. nitrogen dioxide-
SPECIAL NAMES AND
EXCEPTIONS
H2O- water

All acids eg HCl (Hydroclhoric acid), H2SO4(Sulphuric acid).

Ammonia NH3
Ammonium NH4+

And all hyrdocarbons eg CH4 is methane

THE DIATOMIC MOLECULES-
All of these compounds can be found in nature as diatomic
molecules. Meaning there is two atoms of the same kind
combined together in a covalent bond like a set of twin holding
hands. If any of these elements is being used or produced in a
chemical reaction ensure the subscript two is beside them

Eg. Structure of oxygen gas as found

in nature

Name ( in free state) Formula

Hydrogen H2
Iodine I2
Bromine Br2
Chlorine Cl2
Oxygen O2
Nitrogen N2
Fluorine F2
POPULAR ACIDS – MEMORIZE
THEM- YOU CAN CONSIDER THEIR NAMES AS SPECIAL CASES
OF NAMES GIVEN FOR COVALENT SUBSTANCES WHICH THEY ARE
Acid name Formula
Hydrochloric acid HCl
Hydrobromic Acid HBr
Hydroiodic Acid HI
hydrofluoric acid HF
Hydrogen H2S
Sulphide/hydrosulfuric acid CH3COOH
Acetic acid/ Ethanoic acid H3PO4
phosphoric acid H2CO3
carbonic acid H2SO3
Sulfurous Acid H2SO4
Sulfuric acid HNO3
Nitric Acid HClO4
Perchloric Acid HClO3
Chloric Acid
POPULAR BASES_ MEMORIZE
THEM
Potassium hydroxide -KOH
Sodium hydroxide -NaOH
Calcium hydroxide -Ca(OH)2
Barium hydroxide -Ba(OH)2
Lithium hydroxide -LiOH
SECTION 2

Writing the
Chemical
equations for
chemical reactions
CHEMICAL CHANGE AND CHEMICAL
RXN VS NON CHEMICAL
CHANGE( PHASE TRANSITION)
A chemical change results from a chemical
reaction, while a non chemical reaction results
from physical change when matter changes forms
but not chemical identity. Examples
of chemical changes are burning, cooking, rusting,
and rotting. We can write chemical equations for
them. Examples of physical changes are boiling,
melting, freezing, sublimation, and depostition. No
chemical equation is written for them.
A chemical equation can only be written for a
chemical reaction that brings about a chemical
change. The chemical equation describes the
chemical reaction. S
WHAT IS A CHEMICAL
REACTION
A chemical reaction is one in which the reactants change chemically by forming
new substances that are not reversible under most cases ( Note that reversible
reactions exist).
The equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid with sodium metal can be denoted:
2Na(s)+2HCl(aq)→2NaCl(aq)+H2(g)
2H2(g) + O2(g)  2H2O(l)
The following state symbols are utilized in chemical equation writing:
(s) for solids( insoluble in water) or
(l) for liquids,
(g) for gases or
(aq) for aqueous solutions( can dissolve in water hence soluble).
DEFINITION OF A CHEMICAL
EQUATION
A chemical equation is the symbolic representation
of a chemical reaction in the form of symbols and
formulae, wherein the reactant entities are given on
the left-hand side and the product entities on the
right-hand side.
PARTS OF A CHEMICAL
EQUATION

100 ‘c
pd
PARTS OF A CHEMICAL
EQUATION CONTINUED
UNDERSTAND IT BETTER
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS: MATTER CANNOT BE CREATED OR
DESTROYED BUT ONLY CONVERTED FROM ONE FORM TO THE NEXT
CONVERTING CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS TO WORD
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
The equation for the reaction of 2 mole of hydrochloric acid in aqueous
state with 2 mole of solid sodium metal to produce 2 mole of aqueous
sodium chloride and 1mole of hydrogen gas can be denoted:
2Na(s)+2HCl(aq)→2NaCl(aq)+H2(g)

The following state symbols are utilized in chemical equation writing:

(s) for solids( insoluble in water) or
(l) for liquids,
(g) for gases or
(aq) for aqueous solutions( can dissolve in water hence soluble).
SOLUBILITY RULES
Rules used to determine the state of a chemical reactant or product
in a chemical reaction.
1. All pure metals( in elemental state ) are solid in reaction except
mercury.
2. Water is a liquid in most reactions unless it is a combustion
reaction in which water will be a gas.
3. For diatomic nonmetals – H2(g), I2(s), Br2(l), Cl2(g), O2(g),
N2(g) , F2( g)
4. All acids are aqueous
5. For the state of all salts and bases refer to the solubility table. If
a substance is soluble it is aqueous, and if its insoluble it is solid.
CONVERT THE FOLLOWING
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS TO
WORD CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS
AgNO3(aq) + KCl(aq) AgCl(s) + KNO3(aq)
One mole of aqueous silver nitrate reacts with one mole of potassium chloride in the
aqueous state to produce one mole of silver chloride in the solid state and one mole of
potassium nitrate in the aqueous state.

2KOH(aq) + CaCl2(aq)Ca(OH)2(aq) + 2KCl(aq)

AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) AgCl↓ + NaNO3 (aq)

Mg(OH)2(s) + 2HCl (aq) MgCl2(aq) + 2H2O(l)

CaO↓ + CO2(g)  CaCO3(s)

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF
MASS
Matter cannot be created or destroyed but
only converted from one form to the next.

Try the following : Solid zinc metal reactc with

silver oxide to produce solid zinc oxide and
silver metal in the solid state.
TYPES OF CHEMICAL
REACTIONS
To fully understand chemical reactions around us we must
understand the different classifications of Chemical Equations.
Therefore chemical equations may be classified as
Convert from word to chemical
equations
1. and balance
solid magnesium metal react
oxygen gas to produce solid ma
oxide
2.Sodium metal reacts with ox
to produce to solid sodium oxid
_______________________________
1.Convert from word equation t
___
equation : solid Calcium oxide d
form calcium metal and oxygen
_______________________________
1. Convert from word
equation to chemical
equation and balance :
solid iron metal reacts with
copper (II) oxide to produce
TYPES OF CHEMICAL
REACTIONS CONTINUED
Do the following and
reacti balance: aqueous
on copper(II) sulphate reacts
with aqueus sodium
hydroxide to produce solid(
insoluble) copper (II)
Do the following
hydroxide and
and sodium
balance:
sulphate.aqueous calcium
hydroxide reacts with
aqueous sulphuric acid to
produce solid calcium
sulphate and water in liquid
state. hydroxide and
aqueous sodium sulphate.
TYPES OF CHEMICAL
REACTIONS CONTINUED
Combustion of hydrocarbon
Combu
st
i)C2H4
(ii)Li
Metal or non metal+ Mg(s) + O2(g)
O2(g) give metallic
oxide of non metal oxide MgO(s)
 Take inventory of the elements & check if the equation is
balanced or unbalanced , if not balanced proceed as follows
 CONVERT TO CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS AND
BALANCING THE FOLLOWING
Write the following and balance: solid magnesium metal reacts with oxygen gas to produce
solid magnesium oxide
Write the following and balance Sodium metal reacts with oxygen gas to produce to solid
sodium oxide
Write the following and balance: solid Calcium oxide decomposes to form calcium
metal and oxygen
Write the following and balance: solid iron metal reacts with copper oxide to produce solid
copper metal and solid iron(II)oxide
Write the following and balance: aqueous copper(II) sulphate reacts with aqueous sodium
hydroxide to produce solid( insoluble) copper (II) hydroxide and sodium sulphate.
Write the following and balance: aqueous calcium hydroxide reacts with aqueous sulphuric acid
to produce solid calcium sulphate and water in liquid state. hydroxide and sodium sulphate.
DETERMINING STATE
SYMBOLS- SOLUBILITY
RULES
State symbols for a chemical reaction can be determined if you memorize your solubility rules table as
the cations and anions of many compounds determine whether the compound will be insoluble in
solution(solid), meaning it cant dissolve in water and is therefore called a precipitate which you will see
as a solid in the reaction tube/ test-tube.
A compound can be also be soluble( aqueous), meaning it can be dissolved in water and you will not see
it as a precipitate when you react both reactants together in the test-tube . a. Please check open your
solubility rules table.
So solubility rules enable you to determine if ionic compounds are solid (s) or aqueous(aq)

Moreover you must understand that metals are always solid except mercury which is a liquid metal.
Diatomic molecules such as H2, O2, Cl2, N2, F2 are in gaseous state when in the equation, I2 is solid and
Br2 is liquid. Elemental( free state) Sulphur exists in solid state)
Covalent molcules such as CO2, CO and steam( H2O in gasesous state) are all gases (g)
Water is always in liquid state unless it is a combustion reaction whereas water will be in
the gaseous state(g) which is steam.
All Acids are aqueous
CONVERT AND COMPLETE (WHERE NECESSARY)
THESE WORD EQUATIONS TO CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
DETERMINE THEIR STATE SYMBOLS AND BALANCE
THEM ALSO
Convert the following word equations to chemical equations
1. Iron reacts with Sulphur to produce iron (II) Sulphide.
2. magnesium metal reacts with oxygen gas
3. Aluminum metal reacts with chlorine gas
4. Silver nitrate reacts with potassium chloride
5. Calcium chloride reacts with silver nitrate
6. Sodium Hydroxide reacts with Sulphuric acid
7. calcium hydroxide reacts with Phosphoric acid
8. calcium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid
CONVERTING WORD EQUATIONS TO
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS AND
BALANCE THEM
Solid Copper metal reacts with oxygen gas to produce copper two
oxide in solid state.
CONTINUED
STATE SYMBOL
DETERMINATION AND
SOLUBILITY RULES
State symbols can be solid, liquid, gas, aqueous. However
the diatomic gases are O2, H2, F2, Cl2, all these are
gases(g), water( H2O can be gas( steam ) if the reaction is a
combustion reaction, if not a combustion reaction the water
will be in liquid state(l). Free state Metals( Mg, Ca, Al, Li) are
always in solid state(s), except Hg which is a liquid at room
temperature. All acids are aqueous state( aq) as all acids
must first be dissolved in water to release its H+ ions. To
determine whether your salt will be aqueous( salt is able to
dissolve in water) you need to appreciate and understand
the solubility rule table. You can have a solid salt or an
aqueous salt
/Double displacement
 IONIC REACTION
(PRECIPITATION REACTION)
EQUATION
The precipitation reaction starts with two soluble
reactants anf leads to the formation of two products
being formed, one will be a insoluble salt( precipitate)
and the other will be a soluble salt.
A balanced ionic equation shows the reacting ions in a
chemical reaction. These equations are often used to
model what happens in a precipitation reaction . In these
reactions, two soluble reactants form an insoluble product and
a soluble product.
For example, silver nitrate solution reacts with sodium chloride
solution. Insoluble solid silver chloride and sodium nitrate
solution form:
SPECTATOR IONS
It is essential to understand that
not all ions in a ionic
equation( precipitation reaction)
takes part in the chemical
reaction to form the precipitate.
The ions that do not participate
in the double displacement
reaction are called spectator ions
and can be cancelled out. They
will always remain unchanged
after the reaction has occurred.
THE IONIC EQUATION
The ionic equation tells you what ions actually
took part in the chemical reaction.
STEPS IN WRITING A
BALANCED IONIC EQUATION
FROM PRECIPITATION
REACTION.
1. Write the chemical equation with correct formulas
2. Balance the chemical equation
3. Write in the correct state symbols ( To do this you will have to had
memorized your solubility rules which becomes an essential skill.)
4. Ionize/Dissociate (Split) any compounds that are in the aqueous state (aq) as
this means they are in solution and hence form a homogenous solution where
water is the solvent hence “Aqua”. You cannot dissociate compounds that
are in the solid( s) , Liquid (l) or gaseous states)
5. Look for any spectator ions on both sides of the chemical equation
and cancel them out( They don’t change, in state, charge, or amount of
atoms and hence ARE SAME).
6. write the net ionic equation and check to ensure that the amount of
charges on both sides is the same and elements.
To show the ions involve we can dissociate(Split) all ions in aqueous state( you cannot split anything that is not aqueous). If we do this we
would find that the Na+ ions and Cl- ions remain separate in the sodium nitrate solution and do not form a precipitate. Ions that remain separate
during a reaction are called spectator ions, spectator ions remains unchanged in state, charge and amount of it on both sides of the
equation. This means you can ignore them when you write the ionic equation. You only need to model how the solid silver chloride forms:
Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s)
CHARCTERISTICS OF AN
IONIC( PRECIPITATION)
EQUATION
In a balanced ionic equation:
the number of positive and negative charges is the same
the numbers of atoms of each element on the left and right are
the same
Example:
Explain why this ionic equation is balanced:
Ba2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) → BaSO4(s)
There are the same numbers of atoms of each element on both
sides of the equation. The total charge on both sides is also the
same (zero).
WRITE IONIC EQUATIONS
FOR THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS
1. lead II nitrate and Sodium chloride
2. Sodium carbonate and Iron II chloride
3. Potassium Iodide and Silver acetate
5. Lithium chloride and Silver sulphate
6.Ammonium phosphate and zinc nitrate