Chemistry : Ways to Publish Covalent plus Ionic Chemical Formulas.

Writing chemical formulas is a required skill in the event that you are going to be successful in chemistry. Balancing equations, predicting reactions and calculating stoichiometric problems all rely on your own capability to properly write a chemical formula. In the event that you create a mistake in the formula it will affect the balancing and the mole ratios used to execute stoichiometric calculations. So take some time to learn to properly write chemical formulas, you'll be glad you did.

What You Have to Know...

1. How exactly to utilize the Periodic Table
2. How to use subscripts
3. How to ascertain ionic charges
4. Polyatomic ions
5. Metals with multiple charges
6. Greek and Latin numeric prefixes

The General Rule

Most compounds contain two parts (binary) and are classified as ionic or covalent. The typical rule for naming and writing compounds is to put the more metallic element first followed closely by the less metallic element. Remember to use subscripts showing the number of atoms or ions present in the formula.

Writing Ionic Formulas

When writing the chemical formula for ionic compounds place the cation first, then your anion and check to see that the charges balance to zero. CAS 174063-87-7 If the charges aren't balanced, you should increase the number of cations and anions before the algebraic sum of the charges is zero.

• If the charges are (2+) and (3-) the sum is (1-) and isn't balanced. But the best common multiple of 2 and 3 is 6. So using subscripts increase the number of cations by 3 and the number of anions by 2.


• Thus (2+) times 3 is (6+) and (3-) times 2 is (6-) and (6+) + (6-) is zero. Balanced.

If the cation has multiple charges, the appropriate charge is indicated by way of a Roman numeral placed following the cation's name. Remember to take care of polyatomic ions as complete unit, do not separate them.

EXAMPLE #1: calcium chloride is CaCl2 (calcium 2+) (chlorine 1-) raise the chlorine to two.

EXAMPLE #2: lithium nitrate is LiNO3 (lithium 1+) (nitrate 1-) balanced.

EXAMPLE #3: iron (II) sulfate is FeSO4

Writing Molecular Formulas (covalent)

When writing the chemical formula for covalent compounds place the less electronegative element first followed closely by the more electronegative element and use subscripts to point the number of atoms present. Remember that prefixes are employed only with covalent compounds.

EXAMPLE #1: co2 is CO2 (1 C) (2 O)

EXAMPLE #2: phosphorous pentachloride is PCl5 (1 P) (5 Cl)

Don't Forget to Practice

Really, that's all there is to writing chemical formulas. Now you need to apply, practice and practice some more. Although chemical formulas aren't all that hard, you will need to apply in the event that you are going to be worthwhile at it.