Fixed composition of compounds.

A compound is made up of different elements chemically combined in a fixed ratio. For example, water H2O is a
compound made only by joining together two atoms of hydrogen to one atom of oxygen. That is, the ratio of
hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms in water is always 2:1
Chemical Formula of a Compound

A compound can be represented by a chemical formula

o This refers to the relative number of atoms in a compound.
o A chemical formula shows what is formed after elements have reacted/ combined.
For example, look at the chemical formula of water in the figure.
It states that;
– Hydrogen and oxygen atoms are present in the compound
– The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is 2:1
Valence
This is the combining power of an element.

Below is a table of valencies of common elements.

 Valence 1 2 3 4 5
Metals Li Be B Sn
Na Mg Al Pb
K Ca Fe (Ferric)
Cu Fe (Ferrous)
Ag Sn, Cu, Ba, Zn, Pb

Non-metals H O N C P
F S P Si
Cl
Br(Bromine)
I(Iodine)

Identify elements which are multivalent

Such elements are said to exhibit variable valencies.(many valencies)

We use roman numeral to indicate the valence and enclose it inside a bracket. For example, lead(II) nitrate

NB: This table is very important for a student to memorize.

How to write a chemical formula
There are some general rules to follow when we write the chemical formula of a compound.

General rule Examples

Write down the chemical symbols of H O

elements that make up the compound.
. H1 O2
Write the valencies above and to the
right of each symbol

Interchange the valencies and write them H2 O1

down, to the right of the atom’s symbol

Simplify the valencies mathematically if

possible to obtain the desired formula.

Write the correct chemical formula. H2O

Water is H2O, not H2O1

It is not necessary to write the subscript “1”
Workout chemical formulae of the following compounds:

i) Potassium oxide i) Calcium chloride

ii) Lithium chloride ii) Magnesium sulphide

iii) Magnesium oxide iii) Magnesium chloride

iv) Calcium fluoride iv) Beryllium oxide

v) Sodium iodide v) Magnesium nitride

vi) Sodium chloride vi) Aluminium oxide

vii) Sodium oxide vii) Phosphorus (III) chloride

viii)Copper (I) chloride viii)Phosphorus (V) chloride