The chemical formula of a compound is a symbolic representation of its chemical composition.

Chemical formulae provide insight into the elements that constitute the molecules of a
compound and also the ratio in which the atoms of these elements combine to form such
molecules. For example, the chemical formula of water, which is H 2O, suggests that two
hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom to form one molecule of water.

Valency

• The combining power of an element.

• The valency of an element is a measure of its combining power with other atoms when it
forms chemical compounds or molecules.

Naming the compound

If a compound contains a metal and a non-metal, the metal name comes first and the ending of
non-metal changes to ‘ide’.

If a compound contains two non-metals for example, if the compound contains hydrogen, this
comes first. If not the non-metal with the lower group comes first example, nitrogen dioxide-
nitrogen is in group 5 so it comes before oxygen which is in group 6.

If both non- metals are in same group then the one further down the group comes first.

Ex; sulfur dioxide- sulfur is lower than oxygen in group 6 so it comes first.

Rules

1. Write down the symbol in the same order as in the name of the compound.
 2. Write down the valencies below each element.
3. Swap the valencies around.
4. Where possible cancel down the number to get the smallest whole ratio necessary.

Example: Aluminium sulfate

Groups

OH- hydroxide [VALENCY -1] NO3-

nitrate [Valency -1]

SO4-2 sulfate [Valency -2]

CO3-2 carbonate [Valency -2]

PO4-3 Phosphate [Valency -3]

Frame the formula for the following:

(1) Sodium fluoride

(2) Copper (II)oxide

(3) Magnesium iodide
(4) Sodium hydroxide
(5) Potassium sulfate

Frame the chemical formula for the following:

 (1) Sodium fluoride (6) Magnesium oxide

(2) Copper (II)oxide (7) Potassium sulfate

(3) Sodium iodide (8) Iron(III) chloride

(4) Sodium hydroxide (9) Iron(II) sulphate

(5) Lithium oxide (10) Iron(II) sulphide

(11) Magnesium hydroxide (16) Calcium chloride

(12) Magnesium nitride (17) Sodium sulphide

(13) Potassium carbonate (18) Iron (III) oxide

(14) Sodium nitrate (19) Magnesium nitrate

(15) Sodium phosphate (20) Sodium sulphate