CHAPTER 3

THE FORMATION OF COMPOUNDS,

CHEMICAL BONDING, CHEMICAL FORMULA WRITING &
NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

General Objectives:
After the study of this chapter, the students should be able to:
1. Write formulas of compounds;
2. Memorize the oxidation numbers of elements and radicals
3. Write formulas of compounds using the Stock System and Classical System
4. Write formulas of binary molecular or covalent compounds; and
5. Write formulas of acids: Binary and ternary acids.

3.1. DEFINITION OF COMPOUNDS

A compound is a chemical combination of elements. It has a constant composition

and unique set of properties. Its composition is represented by its formula, which lists the
symbols of the elements it contains, with each symbol followed by a subscript that tells how
many atoms of those elements are contained in the simplest unit of the compound.

3.2. CHEMICAL BONDING

In compound formation, atoms tend to form a bond with other atom to become more
stable. In most atoms, such stability is attained by completing the outermost main energy
level with eight electrons (electron configuration of noble gas) by ganing, losing or sharing
electrons.

Chemical bond is a strong force of attraction or linkage between atoms due to the
interaction of electrons between them.

Octet Rule states that in compound formation, atoms of elements lose, gain or share
electrons in such a way that each atom participating in a chemical bonding acquires an
electron configuration resembling that of the noble gas nearest to it in the Periodic Table.
Thus, the outer shell of each bonded atom will contain eight electrons.
 Two Major Types of Chemical Bonding

1. Ionic bonding or Electrovalent Bonding – an ionic or electrovalent bonds is

formed by a transfer of electrons from a metal into a non-metal. As a general rule, in
ionic bond formation, metals lose electron to form positive ion and non-metals gain
electrons to form negative ions.
Ions are charge atoms (do not have equal number of protons and electrons)
the positive ions are called cations and negative ions are called anions.
The compounds formed as a result of transfer of electrons is called
Electrovalent or ionic compound. These compounds are usually hard, non-
volatile solids with high melting points. Ions in this solid form follow a regular
arrangement called crystal lattice.

2. Covalent Bonding – a covalent bond is formed by the sharing of electrons between

two non-metals. It consists of an electron pair shared between two bonded atoms. A
molecule results from this union. The compound formed is called covalent compound.
These compounds are usually gases or liquids with low boiling point. Diatomic
gaseous molecules exhibit covalent properties. The number of covalent bonds that an
atom forms is equal to the number of electrons it needs to achieve a noble gas electron
configuration.

3.3. WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULA

Chemical Formula is a representation of the composition of compounds.

It contains:
1. The symbol and formulas of elements or radical present and
2. The number of atoms of each element present written as numerical subscripts to the
right of each symbols.

Things to know in writing a chemical formula:

1. Correct symbol of element and radical;
2. Corresponding valence or oxidation number.
 The valence denotes the number of electron in the outermost energy level. It also
describes combining power of an atom in a compound. The oxidation number refers also to
the combining capacity of an atom but specifying charge (whether positive or negative).

Radical are group of elements which act as one or single atom in chemical reaction
and show definite valence.

3.3.1. RULES IN WRING CHEMICAL FORMULA

1. Criss-Cross Rule – Chemical compounds are electrically charged, the total

number of positive charges is equal to the number of negative charges.
Hence, the valence of positive entity (ion or radical) equals subscript of
negative entity. The sum of the positive and negative valances should add up
to zero. The positive ion is written first followed by the negative ion.
2. When valence number is 1, subscript 1 is not written
3. When the oxidation numbers or elements are numerically equal but greater
than 1, the subscript are not also written
4. All radicals take more than once (the subscript is 2 or more) must be enclosed
in parentheses.
5. All subscript must be reduced to lowest terms except for molecular or
covalent compounds)

3.3.2. Formulas for Binary Compounds Containing Metals with Variable

Valence or Oxidation Number.

A. Stock System – roman numerals indicated after the name of the metal
represents the oxidation number (valence) of the metal.

B. Classical System – The “ic” and the “ous” ending are added to the line stem
or root of the latin name of the metal.
-The “ic” ending indicates higher oxidation number or valence.
-The “ous” ending indicates lower oxidation number or valence.
3.3.3. Formulas for Binary Molecular or Covalent Compounds.
1. The Greek prefix mentioned before the name of the non metals are written as
subscripts of non metals
2. If prefix in mono, it is not mentioned as the start of the name but mentioned
on the second portion.

Greek Prefixes Used in Naming Binary Molecular Compounds

Number of Atom Prefixes
1 Mono
2 Di
3 Tri
4 Tetra
5 Penta
6 Hexa
7 Hepta
8 Octa
9 Nona
10 deca

3.3.4. Formula of Acids

A. Binary Acids are solutions of compounds consisting of hydrogen and non-metal.

The same starts with the prefix hydro and the ending “ic” attached to the acid
forming element followed by the word acid. The formula is H followed by the sybol
of the nonmetal.

B. Ternary Acids or Oxyacids are those containing H2O and the acid forming
element. The names do not have prefix hydro. Their names end in “ous” or “ic”

ic contains more oxygen - - - - - - - - salts or radical ends in ate

ous contains less oxygen - - - - - - - - salts or radical ends in ite
3.4. NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

3.4.1. Rules in Naming Compounds

A. Binary Ionic Compounds – are compounds that contains two (2) different
elements, a metal and a non-metal. The name ends in –ide

Name of metal + stem of name of non metal +ide

1. Binary ionic compounds contain metals with fixed valences are the
elements in Group IA & IIA and elements Al, Zn and Ag
2. Binary ionic compounds containing metals with variable valences

a) Stock System a roman numerical enclosed in parenthesis is

written immediately following the name of the metal to indicate
the valence of the metal.

Name of metal (valence in roman Numeral)+ stem of name

of non metal +ide

b) Classical (Old) Method –Name of the metal is modified with

ending “ic” for higher valence and “ous” for lower valence.
Exceptions using –ide endings Hydroxide (OH), cyanide (CN) and
ammonium (NH4) compounds are named with –ide ending
although they are not binary.

B. Binary Molecular Compounds – are compounds containing two non metals.

Greek prefixes are use to indicate the number of atoms. The prefix mono is
dropped at the start name.

Greek prefix + Name of the 1st non metal + Greek Prefix + Stem of name
of 2nd non metal + ide

3.4.2. Binary molecular compounds containing Hydrogen listed as the first

element. They are named without using Greek Prefixes.

Hydrogen + stem of name of non metal + ide

3.4.3. Binary Acids – are water solutions of molecular compounds composed of
hydrogen and another non metal except oxygen.

Hydrogen + stem of name of non metal + ic ending + acid

3.4.4. Ternary Acids (Oxy Acids) names ends in “ous” or “ic”

stem of name of non metal + ic ending + acid

stem of name of non metal + ous ending + acid

Note: “ic” contains more oxygen and “ous” contains less oxygen

3.4.5. When there are more than two oxy acidsof the same elements, the acid wherein
the nonmetal exhibits a lower valence than the “ous” acid uses the prefix “hypo”
and suffix “ous” + the word acid. The acid wherein the non metal exhibits a higher
valence than the “ic” acid uses the prefix “per” and suffix “ic” + acid.

3.4.6. Ternary compounds name ends in ite for less oxygen, ate for more
oxygen.