WRITING CHEMICAL

FORMULAE
IONS
• An ion is a charged particle.
• Charged particles are formed when there is an imbalance of positively
charged protons and negatively charged electrons.
• There can be positive charges and negative charges.

• Ions are divided into two types: 1) Cations

                                                        2)Anions
C AT I O N S ( P O S I T I V E LY
CHARGED IONS)
• Cations are positively charged ions
formed from an atom losing one or
more electrons.
A N I O N S ( N E G AT I V E LY
CHARGED IONS)
• Anions are negatively charged ions
formed from atom gaining one or
more electrons.
 WRITING CHEMICAL
FORMULAE(CONTINUED...)
CHARGE VS OXIDIZATION STATE OR
OXIDIZATION NUMBER
• Both terms "charged" and "oxidization state" indicates how many electrons
are lost or gained by an atom.
• We write "charges as a superscript after the symbol of the atom we are
describing. The magnitude(number) of the charge comes first,then the sign

• Example:
• Calcium(2,8,8,2)
           
• If calcium loses 2 electrons in its valence (outermost) shell

• We write "oxidization states with the sign first,then the number". It is not
written as a supercript.
• Just as we write our names,sentences
or addresses in a certain way,chemists
follow a set of rules when writing
formulae.
• RULES:
• 1) Write the name of the compound.
• 2) Write down the symbols of the elements
(or polyatomic groups) and their charges
• 3) Since the total negative charge must 
equal the total positive charge,balance out
the charges by adjusting the numbers of
ions as necessary.Do not change the charge
on any of the ions.
• 4)Write the formula using the numbers of
each ion as subscripts.
 PRACTICE:
• 1)Aluminium oxide • 2) Sodium cyanide
• Calcium fluoride • Barium phosphide
• Ammonium nitrate • Calcium nitride
• Lithium hydroxide • Copper(ii) chloride
• Potassium oxide • Barium sulphate(Vi)
• Ammonium carbonate • Chromium hydroxide
• Zinc phosphate • Iron(iii)sulphate(vi)
• Silver hydrogen sulphate • Potassium cyanide
• Strontium nitride • Lead (ii)  sulphide
• Ammonium hydrogen carbonate • Magnesium sulphate(Vi)
• Tin phosphate • Iron(iii) bisulphate