Chemical Formulas

Formulas express the types and numbers of

atoms in a compound
Symbols are used to represent the types of
elements
Subscripts are used to represent the number
of atoms of each element
Ex) NH3
Ionic Compounds
Ionic Compound a compound composed of
cations and anions
Cations and anions can be named differently from
the element name.
Reminders:
Cation positively charged ion
Anion negatively charged ion
Overall charge of the compound is ZERO!
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Naming Ions
Worksheet
Ionic Compounds
Binary ionic compound an ionic compound
composed of two ions
metal ion + nonmetal ion

Metals form monatomic cations

Nonmetals form monatomic anions
Writing Ionic Formulas
1. Determine the charges of the ions in the formula.
2. Write ions with charges.
Cations MUST be written first.
3. Cross and drop charges.
Use the absolute value of each ions charge as the
subscript for the other ion. NO positive or
negative sign.
4. Reduce subscripts to the lowest whole number
ratio.
Writing Ionic Formulas
Ex) Write the formula for Magnesium Chloride
Step 1: Find the charges
Step 2: Mg2+ Cl1

Step 3: MgCl2
More Examples

Lithium chloride LiCl

Li1+ Cl-1
Calcium bromide CaBr2
Ca2+ Br-1
Beryllium sulfide
Be2S2 = BeS
Be2+ S-2
Aluminum oxide
Al2O3
Al3+ O-2
Naming Cations & Anions
Cation naming pattern
Ex) K+1 = potassium
metals name

Anion naming pattern Ex) F1 = fluor ide

nonmetals stem + -ide
Naming Binary Ionic Compounds
Binary ionic compound naming pattern
metals name + nonmetals stem + -ide

Ex) KF = potassium fluor ide

More Examples

NaCl Sodium chloride

Li2O Lithium oxide
Mg3N2 Magnesium nitride
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Naming Ions Binary Ionic
Worksheet Compounds
Student Notes
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Dice Activity #1 Writing &
Naming
Binary Ionic
Compounds
Worksheet