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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

ACTIVITY 1 CHEMICAL FORMULA NAMING AND WRITING

1.1 WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULAS

The study of formula writing covers a bewildering array of chemical formulas that students
encounter much confusion as so many new names come up in the discussion. A lack of
understanding of the fundamental principles and basic rules is another contributing factor.

The names and formulas of inorganic compounds are written in such a way that every
compound can be named from its formula and each formula has a name peculiar to that compound.
An organization of chemists called the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
has developed a simplified way of writing and naming chemical formulas.

A chemical formula is a representation of the number and kind of atoms in a molecule of a

substance and is used in place of the name of the substance.

Types of Formulas

Molecular formulas (MF) give the actual number of atoms per molecule or per mole of a compound.

Example: Hydrogen Peroxide MF: H2O2

1. Empirical formulas give the simplest whole number ratios in which atoms combine to
form a compound. These ratios are always expressed as whole numbers to conform to
the assumption that fractions of atoms cannot combine.
Example: Hydrogen Peroxide EF: HO

2. Structural formulas show the bonding arrangement of the atoms within a molecule.
Example: Hydrogen Peroxide SF:

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

3. Lewis electronic formulas (electron dot formulas) show how the electron pairs are
arranged in the molecule.
Example: Hydrogen Peroxide LEF:

The derivation of formulas of compounds consisting of two elements permits a

generalization for writing the formulas of other compounds where either of these elements is
present. Examine the following compounds given on the next page.

HCl 1 H atom combines with 1 Cl atom

NaCl 1 Na atom combines with 1 Cl atom

Na2O 2 Na atoms combine with 1 O atom

H 2O 2 H atoms combine with 1 O atom

NH3 3 H atoms combine with 1 N atom

SiH4 4 H atoms combine with 1 Si atom

CaH2 2 H atoms combine with 1 Ca atom

These formulas show that more than one atom of hydrogen can combine with one atom of
the other element. By convention, the valence of hydrogen is 1+. Therefore, the common valence of
an element can be defined as the number of hydrogen atoms that combine with atom of that
element.

The common valences of the elements in the above formulas are:

Na, 1+ Cl, 1− N, 3−

Ca, 2+ O, 2− Si, 4+

The common valence of an element expresses only its combining capacity, not the
presence or absence of ions.

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

Common valences make it possible to predict the formulas of binary compounds which are
compounds consisting of two elements. It is convenient to consider valence as a sort of an electrical
or magnetic phenomenon. Thus, a metal almost always has a positive valence while a non-metal
usually has a negative valence. When an atom loses or gains electrons, an ion is formed. The valence
number, positive or negative, indicates the number of electrons lost or gained by the atom. The
“signed valence” is the oxidation state of the element. Two elements combine in such a way that
the atoms are in their simplest ratio and that their oxidation numbers will add to zero.

Example: (a) HCl (H+, Cl-)

(b) H2O (H+, O2-)

For some components, the charge on the ion is the same as the common valence. These are
called ionic compounds.

Certain combinations of two or more elements remain and behave as units during many
chemical reactions. These combinations are referred to as radicals or polyatomic ions.

Examples: SO42-, NH4+, HCO3-

RULES IN WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULAS:

1. Symbols of metals, non-metals and inert gases formulas remain unchanged in the formulas
where they are found.
Examples: Fe, Zn, Mg, S, C, Ne, Ar

2. Symbols of some gaseous elements are written correctly by taking two atoms of these
elements since they form diatomic molecules. These gaseous compounds are:
O2, H2, N2, F2, I2, Br2, Cl2

3. Inorganic Compounds:
(a) Write the cation first and then the anion.
Example: Na Cl Na SO4 NH4 PO4

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

(b) Indicate their respective oxidation states.

Example: Na+ Cl- Na+ SO42- NH4+ PO43-

(c) Make a total oxidation number equal to zero by applying the “criss- cross” method.
Example: NaCl Na2SO4 (NH4)3PO4

Note: The subscript “1” is never written.

The radicals should be enclosed in parenthesis.

Same valence number cancels out.

1.2 NAMING CHEMICAL FORMULAS

Communication is impossible without a rational system of naming substances. Each discipline

finds it necessary to develop its own systematic language. Modern rules of nomenclature issued by
the IUPAC make possible the naming of more than 4 million substances with a minimum of
memorization.

I. BINARY COMPOUNDS are substances consisting of two types of elements

1. Covalent Compounds which usually involve 2 non-metallic elements use the Greek
prefixes, mono, di, tri, tetra, penta…etc, to indicate the number of atoms of each
element present in the compound. The second non-metal usually ends in –ide.
Examples:

CO carbon monoxide

CO2 carbon dioxide

N2O dinitrogen monoxide

N2O4 dinitrogen tetroxide

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

PCl3 phosphorus trichloride

PCl5 phosphorus pentachloride

Note: The prefix “mono” is never written for the first element.

2. Binary Acids: Aqueous solutions of acids (aq) are distinguished by the prefix hydro-
and ending –ic.
Examples:

HCl (aq) hydrochloric acid

H2S (aq) hydrosulfuric acid

HI (aq) hydroiodic acid

HBr (aq) hydrobromic acid

Note: For the combination of these elements in the gaseous form, the rules for
naming binary salts apply.
3. Salts: These consist of a metallic cation and non-metallic anion. The element which
forms a positive ion is written first and the second element is abbreviated and given
the suffix -ide
Examples:

NaCl sodium chloride

K2S potassium sulfide

LiH lithium hydride

CaO calcium oxide

MgBr2 magnesium bromide

BaF2 barium fluoride

When metals with variable valences are involved, it is necessary to

distinguish the various salts by one of the following systems.

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

A. OUS – IC system: It is the traditional system not recommended by IUPAC. It

applies the suffix –ic for the element with the higher oxidation state and –ous for
that with the lower oxidation state.
Example: FeCl2 ferrous chloride

FeCl3 ferric chloride

Hg2O mercurous oxide

HgO mercuric oxide

B. Stock system: Alfred Stock, famous for his work on the chemistry of boron and
silicon hydrides, introduced the system of Roman numerals.
Examples: FeCl2 iron (II) chloride

FeCl3 iron (III) chloride

Hg2O mercury (I) oxide

HgO mercury (II) oxide

4. Metals + Polyatomic Anions: They generally act as discrete units in reactions.

Examples:

NaOH sodium hydroxide

Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide

KCN potassium cyanide

Fe(OH)3 ferric hydroxide

NH4Cl ammonium chloride

LiHCO3 lithium bicarbonate

BaSO4 barium sulfate

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

5. Trivial Names – These are names, which are assigned arbitrarily to some
compounds.
Examples:

H2O water HCl muriatic acid

NH3 ammonia Al2O3 alumina

PH3 phosphine NaHCO3 baking soda

AsH3 arsine CaCO3 marble

CH4 marsh gas N2O laughing gas

CaO lime NaOH lye

NaCl table salt NaClO chlorox

6. Peroxides are oxygen atoms with a single covalent bond between them. Care must
be taken to distinguish between peroxides and normal oxides.
Examples:

BaO2 barium peroxide BaO barium oxide

Na2O2 sodium peroxide Na2O sodium oxide

II. TERNARY COMPOUNDS

Ternary Acids and Salts

The oxides of non-metals react with water to form solutions, which are acidic. In
some cases, there may be a series of oxyacids, each one containing the non–metal in a
different oxidation state. In order to distinguish between these acids and their respective
salts, the following system has been devised.

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

Oxidation state of Cl Acid Name

1+ HClO Hypochlorous acid

3+ HClO2 Chlorous acid

5+ HClO3 Chloric acid

7+ HClO4 Perchloric acid

Oxidation state of Cl Salt Name

1+ NaClO Sodium hypochlorite

3+ NaClO2 Sodium chlorite

5+ NaClO3 Sodium chlorate

7+ NaClO4 Sodium perchlorate

Note that for acids ending in ous, the corresponding salt ends in ite, and for acids
ending in ic, the salts end in ate. In addition the prefix hypo, Greek for under, is used to
denote the lowest oxidation state of the non–metal. The prefix per, from the Greek hyper,
meaning above, is used to denote highest oxidation state of the non–metal.

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

III. COMPOUNDS HIGHER THAN TERNARY

1. Acid Salts

Name of metal + name of oxyanion

Example:

NaHSO4 sodium hydrogen sulfate

sodium bisulfate

Na2HPO4 sodium monohydrogen phosphate

disodium hydrogen phosphate

NaH2PO4 sodium dihydrogen phosphate

2. Mixed or Double Salts

Name of metal Name of metal Name of

with lower oxidation + with higher oxidation + oxyanion

number number

(prefix, except mono)

Examples:

KCaPO4 potassium calcium phosphate

Na2Ca(SO4)2 disodium calcium sulfate

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

Part 1 and 2 will be discussed as Examples in Class (Synchronous Session).

Part 3 Answers will be the submitted using the Treatment of Data Template for Activity 1

Practice 1: Name the following compounds

Part 1. Naming of chemical compounds

1. SO2

2. PBr5

3. SnCl4

4. MgCl2

5. PbS2

6. Ca(CN)2

7. HCN (aq)

8. Al(OH)3

9. H2SO4 (in water)

10. Ca3(PO4)2

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

Part 2. Naming of chemical compounds

1. Mg(ClO3)2

2. NH4NO3

3. HBrO (in water)

4. Al(HSO4)3

5. KH2PO4

6. NaCaPO4

7. K2Ba(SO4)2

8. K2SeO4

9. SnI4

10. HI (g)

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

Practice 2: Fill in the following table with the name of the binary acid, the formula of
its sodium salt, and the corresponding name of its sodium salt.

Binary acid Name of acid Formula for Name of sodium salt

sodium salt

HI

HF

HIO

HIO2

HIO3

HIO4

H3AsO4

H3AsO3

HNO3

HNO2

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

Practice 3: Give the chemical formula of the compounds with the following names.
Part 1. Formula writing

1. calcium nitrate

2. iron (III) sulfate

3. ammonium phosphate

4. tin (II) sulfite

5. silver phosphate

6. zinc cyanide

7. lead (IV) oxide

8. ferric ferrocyanide

9. cuprous sulfide

10. chlorine gas

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

Practice 3: Give the chemical formula of the compounds with the following names.
Part 2. Formula writing

1. diphosphorus pentasulfide

2. chlorine trifluoride

3. radium acetate

4. iron (III) hydroxide

5. silver dichromate

6. strontium carbonate

7. lithium bismuthate

8. sodium tetrathionate

9. ammonium molybdate

10. mercury (II) ferricyanide

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

DATA SHEET
Activity No. 1
FORMULA WRITING AND NAMING

Name: _____________________________ Instructor: _______________________

_____________________________
_____________________________
Sec.: _______ Group No.: _________ Date: ___________________________

Practice 1 – Part 1

10

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

DATA SHEET
Activity No. 1
FORMULA WRITING AND NAMING

Name: _____________________________ Instructor: _______________________

_____________________________
_____________________________
Sec.: _______ Group No.: _________ Date: ___________________________

Practice 1 – Part 2

10

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

DATA SHEET
Activity No. 1
FORMULA WRITING AND NAMING

Name: _____________________________ Instructor: _______________________

_____________________________
_____________________________
Sec.: _______ Group No.: _________ Date: ___________________________

Practice 2

Binary Formula for

Name of acid Name of sodium salt
acid sodium salt
HI

HF

HIO

HIO2

HIO3

HIO4

H3AsO4

H3AsO3

HNO3

HNO2

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

DATA SHEET
Activity No. 1
FORMULA WRITING AND NAMING

Name: _____________________________ Instructor: _______________________

_____________________________
_____________________________
Sec.: _______ Group No.: _________ Date: ___________________________

Practice 3 – Part 1 Practice 3 – Part 2

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

9 9

10 10

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

LIST OF COMMON CATIONS

Name Formula Other name(s)

Aluminum Al +3

Ammonium NH4+
Barium Ba+2
Calcium Ca+2
Chromium(II) Cr+2 Chromous
Chromium(III) Cr+3 Chromic
Copper(I) Cu+ Cuprous
Copper(II) Cu+2 Cupric
Iron(II) Fe+2 Ferrous
Iron(III) Fe+3 Ferric
Hydrogen H +

Hydronium H3O+
Lead(II) Pb+2
Lithium Li+
Magnesium Mg+2
Manganese(II) Mn+2 Manganous
Manganese(III) Mn+3 Manganic
Mercury(I) Hg2+2 Mercurous
Mercury(II) Hg+2 Mercuric
Nitronium NO 2+

Potassium K+
Silver Ag+
Sodium Na+
Strontium Sr+2
Tin(II) Sn+2 Stannous
Tin(IV) Sn +4 Stannic
Zinc Zn +2

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

LIST OF COMMON ANIONS

Anions with -1 Charge:

Hydride H- Nitrate NO3-
Fluoride F- Nitrite NO2-
Chloride Cl- Perchlorate ClO4-
Bromide Br- Chlorate ClO3-
Iodide I- Chlorite ClO2-
Cyanide CN- Hypochlorite OCl-
Cyanate OCN- Iodate IO3-
Thiocyanate SCN- Bromate BrO3-
Hydroxide OH- Hypobromite BrO-
Amide NH2- Permanganate MnO4-
Acetate CH3COO- Dihydrogen phosphate H2PO4-
Formate HCOO- Hydrogen sulfate HSO4-

Hydrogen carbonate
HCO3- Bismuthate BiO3 -
or Bicarbonate

Anions with -2 Charge:

Oxide O2- Hydrogen phosphate HPO42-
Sulfide S2- Chromate CrO42-
Sulfate SO42- Dichromate Cr2O72-
Thiosulfate S2O32- Carbonate CO32-
Sulfite SO32- Oxalate C2O42-

Peroxide O22-

Anions with -3 Charge:

N3- Arsenate AsO43-

Nitride
Phosphate PO43- Arsenite AsO33-

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity 1: Formula Naming and Writing

LIST OF COMMON NAMES FOR CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Common Name Chemical Name Formula

baking soda sodium hydrogen carbonate / NaHCO3

sodium bicarbonate

bleach (liquid) sodium hypochlorite or NaClO

hydrogen peroxide H2O2

bleach (solid) sodium perborate NaBO3

Borax sodium tetraborate decahydrate Na2B4O7.10 H2O

brimstone sulfur S

cream of tartar potassium hydrogen tartrate KHC4H4O6

Epsom salt magnesium sulfate heptahydrate MgSO4.7 H2O

Freon dichlorodifluoromethane CF2Cl2

galena lead (II) sulfide PbS

grain alcohol ethanol C2H5OH

graphite carbon C

gypsum calcium sulfate dihydrate CaSO4.2 H2O

hypo sodium thiosulfate Na2S2O3

laughing gas dinitrogen oxide N2O

lime calcium oxide CaO

limestone calcium carbonate CaCO3

lye sodium hydroxide NaOH

marble calcium carbonate CaCO3

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CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY (ENG 202)

Activity1: Formula Naming and Writing

Common Name Chemical Name Formula

MEK ethyl methyl ketone CH3COC2H5

milk of magnesia magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2

muriatic acid hydrochloric acid HCl

oil of vitriol sulfuric acid H2SO4

plaster of paris calcium sulfate hemihydrate CaSO4. ½ H2O

potash potassium carbonate K2CO3

iron pyrite (fools gold) iron disulfide FeS2

quartz silicon dioxide SiO2

quicksilver mercury Hg

rubbing alcohol isopropyl alcohol (CH3)2CHOH

sal ammoniac ammonium chloride NH4Cl

salt sodium chloride NaCl

salt substitute potassium chloride KCl

Saltpeter potassium nitrate KNO3

slaked lime calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2

sugar sucrose C12H22O11

washing soda sodium carbonate decahydrate Na2CO3.10 H2O

wood alcohol methyl alcohol CH3OH

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