UNIT 09: Covalent Nomenclature & Molecular Formulas

KUD/Review:
Know (define):
covalent bond VSEPR Theory

electronegativity molecular
geometry

molecule linear

formula unit polar molecule

diatomic molecules trigonal planar

octet rule bent

lone pair electrons trigonal

pyramidal

bonding pair tetrahedral

electrons

single bond polar covalent

bonds

double bond nonpolar

covalent bonds

triple bond nonpolar

molecule

Write the number that each prefix represents:

mono- hexa-

di- hepta-

tri- octa-

tetra- nona-

penta- deca-

Understand:
● What do the prefixes in the name of covalent compounds represent?

● What determines the polarity of a bond?

● What determines the polarity of a molecule?

Do (I can):

I. Covalent Compound Naming and Formulas

a. Given the chemical formula, name the following compounds:

CCl4 CO

P4S5 SCl2

PF5 C3N4

PH3 N2O3

b. Write the chemical formula of the compound from the chemical name:

iodine pentafluoride silicon dioxide

selenium tetrafluoride nitrogen

sulfur trioxide dinitrogen tetroxide

boron trifluoride phosphorus mononitride

c. For the following: draw the Lewis Structure, determine the shape of the
molecule (molecular geometry), and determine if the molecule is polar or nonpolar.

Molecular Geometry Molecule

Compound Lewis Structure
(Shape) Polarity

CCl4

NI3

CS2

boron non
trifluoride
dihydrogen
sulfide

CHCl3

II. Mixed Ionic and Covalent Compound Naming

a. Given the chemical formula, name the following compounds:

Ca(NO3)2 SF6

Mn(OH)2 Sr3(PO4)2

P2O5 OS

NH4Cl Zn(OH)2

Al2(SO4)3 As4O10

b. Write the chemical formula of the compound from the chemical name:
barium sulfate tetraphosphorus decoxide

aluminum nitrate ammonium sulfide

selenium difluoride iodine dichloride

lithium phosphate lithium nitrite

c. Draw the Lewis Dot Structures for the following:

CH3OCH3
Ca3N2
(K only)

silicon sodium
dioxide sulfide

PbO2 sulfur
(K only) dibromide
 Covalent Nomenclature
Ionic Bonding Covalent Bonding

Electrons are ______________________ to or Electrons are ____________________ between

from the atoms. the atoms.

Formed between a _______________ and a Formed between a __________________ and a

______________________ ______________________

Have charges; overall compound is neutral No charges; overall compound is neutral

Covalent compounds have a completely different naming system than ionic compounds. Since there
are no ions, we don’t have to worry about balancing the charges. We do, however, need to specify in
how many of each atom are present.

Prefix Number
The table to the right displays the prefixes commonly used in covalent
compounds. Mono-

Things to note: Di-

• The prefixes refer to the subscript, or how many atoms of each Tri-
element there are in the molecule. Tetra-
• When an element starts with a vowel, delete the final vowel off all
prefixes except di- and tri-, or if the element is iodine. Penta-
• The second nonmetal will end in -ide.
Hexa-
• When the first element has only 1 atom, do not include the prefix
mono. Covalent compounds will never start with mono in their Hepta-
name.
Octa-

Look at the two examples provided in the table, then name for write the Nona-
formula for the rest of the covalent compounds.
Deca-

Formula Compound Formula

N 2O 4 Dinitrogen tetroxide S 2O 3 Disulfur trioxide
P 4S 3 Xenon hexafluoride
P 2O 5 Dihydrogen monoxide
S2F10 Triphosphorus pentabromide
SF6 Tetraiodine nonoxide
Cl2O Silicon octafluoride
SO8 Tribromine heptafluoride
ClF Tetraphosphorus decoxide
NO3 Carbon monoxide
I7F9 Carbon tetrahydride
 Covalent Lewis Dot Structures
Because covalent compounds share electrons, there are no charges to draw on their Lewis dot structures.
Use this page to record the rules and examples that your teacher provides to you.
Covalent Compound Work Final Structure

Name:
Carbon tetrafluoride

Formula:

Name:
Nitrogen triiodide

Formula:

Name:
Carbon disulfide

Formula:

Name:

Formula:
SF2

Name:

Formula:
SiH4

Name:

Formula:
BF3
Covalent Compound Work Final Structure

Name:
Arsenic trichloride

Formula:

Name:
Phosphorus
tribromide

Formula:

Name:
Boron trichloride

Formula:

Name:

Formula:
H 2S

Name:

Formula:
SiS2

Name:

Formula:
SiF4
Covalent Compound Work Final Structure
Name:
Phosphorus
trifluoride

Formula:

Name:
Carbon diselenide

Formula:

Name:
Oxygen difluoride

Formula:

Name:
N/A

Formula:
BH2Cl

Name:
N/A

Formula:
CH2Cl2

Name:
N/A

Formula:
NF2Br
Covalent Compound Work Final Structure

Name:
N/A

Formula:
HCN

Name:
N/A

Formula:
CH2O

Name:
N/A

Formula:
H 2O 2

Name:
N/A

Formula:
C 2H 6

Name:
N/A

Formula:
C 2H 4

Name:
N/A

Formula:
C 2H 2
Covalent Compound Work Final Structure

Name:
N/A

Formula:
C2H5Cl

Name:
N/A

Formula:
C2H5OH

Name:
N/A

Formula:
CH3OCH3

Name:
N/A

Formula:
CH3NH2

Name:

Formula:
SF6

Name:

Formula:
XeF4
Given the molecules below:
1) Add non-bonding electrons (aka lone pairs) where applicable directly onto the Lewis dot structures.
2) Name the shape of each compound on the line provided.
Given the molecules below:
1) Add lone pairs to the central atom where applicable.
2) Indicate the bond polarity by highlighting all polar bonds.
3) Identify the molecule polarity (record whether the molecule is polar or non-polar) on the line
provided.
 Covalent & Ionic Formulas: Definitions
Percent Composition by Mass:

Empirical Formula:

Molecular Formula:

Percent Composition by Mass

1. Isopentyl acetate is released when a bee stings and is responsible for the scent of bananas. If the
formula for isopentyl acetate is C7H14O2, determine percent composition by mass for each element.

Empirical Formulas

Steps for determining the Empirical Formula of a substance:

 2. Used in the production of nylon, adipic acid is an organic compound composed of 49.31% C, 43.79%
O, and the rest is hydrogen. Determine the empirical formula for adipic acid.

3. What is the empirical formula for a compound containing 38.8% carbon, 16.2% hydrogen, and 45.1%
nitrogen?

4. A sample of compound of sodium contains 36.5 grams of sodium, 25.4 grams of sulfur, and 38.1
grams of oxygen. What is the empirical formula AND name for this compound?

Molecular Formulas

Identify each formula as Empirical or Molecular. Write the empirical formula for the
Na2O _______________________ following molecular formulas:

C3H6 _______________________ C6H12O6 ____________________

K2SO4 ___________________________________ C3H6 ____________________

C6H12O6 _____________________ Na2O2 ____________________

Calculate the following molecular formulas:
5. Nitrogen and oxygen form multiple molecules together. One of these compounds is used to fuel
space shuttles and has the empirical formula NO2. If the molar mass of this compound is 92.02 g/mol,
what is the molecular formula?

6. Butane is commonly used in lighters. Its percent composition is 17.37% hydrogen and 82.63%
carbon. It has a molar mass of 58.17 g/mol. What are the empirical and molecular formulas of
butane? Make sure to label each formula.

7. Vitamin C is composed of 40.91% C, 4.58% H, and the rest of the compound is oxygen. If the molar
mass of Vitamin C is about 176 g/mol, determine the empirical and molecular formulas. Be sure to
label each formula.