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For instructional purposes only • 1 Semester SY 2020-2021 29

Exercise No. 6: Formula

Writing
Introduction

There are four different types of chemical formulas:

1. Molecular formula – an expression showing the exact number and types of
elements present in a molecule.
Example: C4H10
2. Empirical formula – an expression showing the types of elements present
and the ratio of the different kinds of atoms.
Example: C2H5
3. Structural formula – an expression showing the exact number and types of
atoms present in a molecule and the way in which atoms are chemically
bonded to one another.

Figure 9. Line-bond structure of n-butane

4. Lewis formula – an expression using one or more dots representing the

number of valence electrons in an atom of that element.

Figure 10. Lewis structure of n-butane

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 30 CHEM 113.2 : General Organic and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Valence electrons refer to electrons in the outermost shells, the electrons that
take part in chemical bonding. Note that the number of valence electrons is
the same as the group number of the element.

RULES IN WRITING FORMULAS:

I. For metals, nonmetals, and inert gases,r symbols stand for the formula.

ELEMENT FORMULA
Silver Ag
Copper Cu
Sulfur S
Carbon C
Helium He
Neon Ne

II. Active gaseous elements are written correctly by taking two atoms of the
element since they form diatomic molecules.

ELEMENT FORMULA
Oxygen O2
Hydrogen H2
Fluorine F2
Nitrogen N2
Chlorine Cl2
Bromine Br2
Iodine I2

III. For COMPOUNDS: Write the symbol of the positive element/radical

followed by the negative element/radical together with their valences. The
total positive valence and the total negative valence when added must be
equal to zero so that the compound formed is electrically neutral.
a.) When the positive valence and the negative are of the same number,
the formula is correct as is stands.

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b.) When the positive valence and negative valence are not of the same
number, apply the CRISS-CROSS RULE so that the algebraic sum of
the positive and the negative valence will be equal to zero.
c.) When a radical in a formula is taken more than once, it should be
enclosed in parenthesis with the correct subscript placed outside
the parenthesis.

TABLE OF VALENCES OF COMMON ELEMENTS AND RADICALS

A. MONOVALENT POSITIVE ELEMENT OR RADICALS

1. Copper Cu1+ 4. Lithium Li1+ 7. Silver Ag1+

2. Gold Au1+ 5. Mercury Hg22+ 8. Sodium Na1+

3. Hydrogen H1+ 6. Potassium K1+ 9. Ammonium NH41+

MONOVALENT NEGATIVE ELEMENT OR RADICALS

1. Bromide Br-1 11. Chlorite ClO2-1

2. Chloride Cl-1 12. Formate HCOO-1

3. Fluoride F-1 13. Iodite IO2-1

4. Iodide I-1 14. Dihydrogen phosphate H2PO4-1

5. Acetate CH3COO-1 15. Nitrite NO2-1

6. Bicarbonate HCO3-1 16. Permanganate MnO4-1

7. Nitrate NO3-1 17. Thiocyanate scn-1

8. Chlorate ClO3-1 18 Iodate IO3-1

9. Hydrogen sulfate HSO4-1 19. Hydroxide OH-1

10. Hydrogen sulfite HSO3-1

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 32 CHEM 113.2 : General Organic and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

B. BIVALENT POSITIVE ELEMENTS

1. Barium Ba2+ 7. Copper (II) Cu2+ 13. Molybdenum Mo2+

(II)
2. Cadmium Cd2+ 8. Iron (II) Fe2+ 14. Nickel (II) Ni2+

3. Calcium Ca2+ 9. Lead (II) Pb2+ 15. Platinum (II) Pt2+

4. Carbon C2+ 10. Magnesium Mg2+ 16. Tin (II) Sn2+

5. Chromium Cr2+ 11. Manganese Mn2+ 17. Strontium Sr2+

(II)
6. Cobalt (II) Co2+ 12. Mercury (II) Hg2+ 18. Zinc Zn2+

BIVALENT NEGATIVE ELEMENTS OR RADICALS

1. Oxide O2- 5. Dichromate Cr2O7 2- 9. Thiosulfate S2O3 2-

2. Sulfide S2- 6. Manganate MnO4 2- 10. Peroxide O2 2-

3. Carbonate CO32- 7. Sulfate SO4 2- 11. MoO4 2-

Molybdate
4. Chromate CrO42- 8. Sulfite SO3 2- 12. Oxalate C2O4 2-

C. TRIVALENT POSITIVE ELEMENTS

1. Aluminum Al3+ 5. Boron B3+ 9. Nickel (III) Al3+

2. Antimony (III) Sb3+ 6. Cobalt (III) Co3+ 10. Chromium Al3+

(III)
3. Arsenic (III) Al3+ 7. Gold (III) Au 3+

4. Bismuth Bi3+ 8. Iron (III) Fe3+

TRIVALENT NEGATIVE ELEMENTS

3-
1. Arsenate AsO4 3. Phosphate PO4 3- 5. Nitride (III) N3-

2. Ferricyanide Fe(CN)63- 4. Borate BO3- 6. Phosphide P3-

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D. TETRAVALENT POSITIVE ELEMENTS OR RADICALS

1. Carbon C4- 3. Nitrogen N3- 5. Sulfur (IV) S4+ 7. Tin (IV) Sn4+

2. Lead (IV) Pb4- 4. Platinum Pt3- 6. Silicon Si4+

(IV) (IV)

TETRAVALENT NEGATIVE ELEMENTS OR RADICALS

1. Carbide C4+ 2. Ferrocyanide Fe(CN)64+

E. PENTAVALENT POSITIVE ELEMENTS

1. Antimony (V) Sb5+ 3. Nitrogen (V) N5+

2. Arsenic (V) As5+ 4. Phosphorus P5+

F. HEXAVALENT POSITIVE ELEMENTS

1. Chromium (VI) Cr6+ 2. Sulfur (VI) S6+

G. HEPTAVALENT POSIYIVE ELEMENTS

1. Iodine (VII) I7+ 2. Manganese (VII) Mn7+

Learning Outcomes

1. To be able to write the correct symbols and formulas of atoms, ions &
compounds.
2. To be able to grasp the concept behind chemical formula writing

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 34 CHEM 113.2 : General Organic and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Guide questions and instructions on how to prepare

and submit the laboratory

Write the formula of the following compounds:

1. Boron nitride 11. Ammonium sulfate

2. Calcium oxalate 12. Sodium bicarbonate
3. Lithium acetate 13. Magnesium bromide
4. Iron(II) phosphate 14. Potassium thiocyanate
5. Lead(II) chloride 15. Calcium dichromate
6. Potassium molybdate 16. Cadmium nitrate
7. Aluminum sulfate 17. Zinc phosphide
8. Barium manganite 18. Tin (II) iodide
9. Copper (II) ferricyanide 19. Manganese dioxide
10. Hydrogen sulfide 20. Platinum (IV) iodide

Additional Resources

References
J. G. Jansalin and A. Ramal, Chem 13 [General Organic and Inorganic Chemisty ] Laboratoty
Manual

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