Writing & Naming

Formulas
of
Ionic & Covalent
Compounds
©2006 - Douglas Gilliland
The Physical Science Series

index
1
 Review of the Periodic Table
Periods = number of e- energy levels.
Groups (families) = the number of
valence electrons (A - groups)
IA VIIIA
1
IIA IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA
2

3 Transition Metals

4
5
6
7

6
7
index
2
 Metals have between 1 and 3 valence e-
and have a loose hold on them.
Nonmetals have between 5 and 7 valence e-
and have a tight hold on them.

Noble Gases
Very
IA VIIIA
1
tight
IIA IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA
hold on
2
Transition Metals
valence
3
4
e-.
5
Atomic Radii decreases (more p+)
6
7
Greater hold on valence electrons
6
7

index
3
 Types of Compounds:
Ionic = Metal + Nonmetal
Covalent = 2 Nometals or Metalloid & Nonmetal

Metals Metalloids Nonmetals

IA VIIIA
1
IIA IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA
2

3 Transition Metals
4
5
6
7

6
7

4
 Chemical Compounds
An atom consist of a positively charged nucleus Very
Important!
(protons and neutrons) and orbiting electrons.
Atoms of elements are not chemically stable until they have 8
valence electrons (octet rule).
Atoms gain, lose or share electrons with other atoms to be
come chemically stable ( have 8 valence electrons ).

Six valence Eight valence -2

electrons. 8+ electrons. 8+
Not chemically Chemically
stable. Oxygen Atom stable. Oxide Ion

index
5
 Atoms & Ions:
Not Stable Stable
to become stable will:

Sodium
+1
Sodium
Atom 11+ Lose 1 e- 11+
Ion

-3
Nitrogen Nitride
Atom
7+ Gain 3 e- 7+ Ion

+3
Aluminum
Aluminum
13+ Lose 3 e- 13+ Ion
Atom

index
6
Two Types of Compounds
I o n i c - occurs when a metal loses all
its valence electrons to a nonmetal. The
metal becomes a cation (+ion), while the
nonmetal becomes an anion (- ion).
C o v a l e n t - two nonmetals share
electrons. Neither loses or gains
electrons - they share electrons. Neither
atom becomes an ion.

index
7
 Ionic
Compounds

Crystalline Lattice
index
8
 Oxidizing Magnesium
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
Opposite
charges
hold the
compound
together.

+2 -2
12+
+ 8+ 12+
+ 8+

Magnesium Atom + Oxygen Atom ➝ Magnesium Ion + Oxide Ion

index
9
 Formation of Sodium Chloride
2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
-1
Na
+1
Cl Opposite
charges
hold the
compound
together.
Crystalline
Lattice
-
+
11+ + 17+ 11+ + 17+

Sodium Atom + Chlorine Atom ➝ Sodium Ion + Chloride Ion index

10
 Ionic Compounds
Contain a metal and a nonmetal.
The Metal loses e- and becomes a cation (+).
The Nonmetal gains e- and becomes an anion(-).
Metal is listed first, followed by nonmetal.
Change the name of the nonmetal to -ide.
Examples: nitride, sulfide, fluoride, oxide,
bromide, iodide, chloride, telluride, phosphide.

index
11
 Valence (Oxidation Number)
The valence of an elements is the charge an atom takes
when it loses or gains electrons and becomes an ion.
Metal atoms lose 1, 2 or 3 electrons and become + ions (cations)
Nonmetals gain 1,2 or 3 electrons and become - ions (anions)
+1 0
+2 +3 -4 -3 -2 -1
Transition Metals
Multiple valences

index
12
The 5 Steps for writing an
ionic compound formula:
(I)Write the symbols of the two elements.
(II)Write the valence of each as superscripts.
(III)Drop the positive and negative signs.
(IV)Crisscross the superscripts so they
become subscripts.
(V)Reduce when possible.

index
13
Formula for boron oxide

1. Write the symbols of the two elements.

B O
index
14
Formula for boron oxide

2. Write the valence for each element.

+3 -2

B O
index
15
Formula for boron oxide

3. Drop the positive & negative sign.

+3 -2

B O
index
16
Formula for boron oxide

4. Crisscross the superscripts so they

become subscripts.
3 2

B O
index
17
Formula for boron oxide

4. Crisscross the superscripts so they

become subscripts.

B O 2 3

index
18
Formula for boron oxide
5. Reduce subscripts when possible.
(not possible here)

B O 2 3

index
19
Examples of Reduction
of Subscripts:
Sr2O2 Reduces to SrO
Al3P3 Reduces to AlP
Pb2O4 Reduces to PbO2
Doesn’t
Ba3N2 Reduces to Reduce

20
Most Transition metals have two valences.
Roman numerals are used in the name of
the transition metal in the compound
to show the valence on the cation.
Period 4 Transition Metals
Sc Tl V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn
+3 +4 +5 +6 +4 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2
+3 +4 +3 +6 +3 +3 +3 +1

Examples:
Mn Manganese(IV) Mn
+4 +6
Manganese(VI)
Fe +2
Iron(II) Fe +3
Iron(III)
Cu +1 Copper(I) Cu+2 Copper(II)
index
21
Examples of Transition Metals
+2
Iron(II) Fe
+3
Iron(III) Fe
+1
Copper(I) Cu
+2
Copper(II)Cu
Manganese(II) Mn +2

Manganese(IV)Mn +4

index
22
Naming binary compounds containing
a transition metal.
formula name
Fe2 O 3 Iron(III) oxide

ZnCl 2 Zinc(II) chloride

AgCl Silver(I) chloride

Cu 3 P2 Copper(II) phosphide

PbS2 Lead(IV) sulfide

MnO2 Manganese(IV) oxide

23
 Polyatomic Ions
-1

hydroxide

Polyatomic (many atom) ions are covalent

molecules with a charge. They behave as
if they were a one-atom ion.
index
24
 Polyatomic Ions
+1 -2
NH4 Ammonium SO 3 Sulfite
-1 -2
OH Hydroxide SO4 Sulfate
-1 -2
NO2 Nitrite CO3 Carbonate
-1 -3
NO3 Nitrate PO4 Phosphate
Note: ammonium is the only polyatomic ion with a + charge.
Treat polyatomic ions as you would any ion - crisscross to
determine the formula. The only difference is that when you
have more than one of a specific polyatomic ion in a formula
you must encase it in parenthesis.
index
25
 Writing Ternary Formulas
(Ternary compounds have 3 elements in them.)

Cation Anion Compound

+2 -1
Ca NO3 Ca(NO3)2
-3
Mg +2 PO 4 Mg 3(PO 4)2
+2 -1
Ba OH Ba(OH)2
+2 -2
Ba SO4 Ba SO4
As in all ionic compounds you must reduce subscripts, but you
cannot change the formula of the polyatomic ion. You can only
reduce subscripts outside the parenthesis.
index
26
 Compounds with Polyatomic ions
-2
Carbonate CO 3
Sodium carbonate Na 2CO3
Calcium carbonate Ca CO 3
Aluminum carbonate Al 2(CO 3)3
-3
Phosphate PO4
Sodium phosphate Na 3PO4
Calcium phosphate Ca3(PO3 )2
Aluminum phosphate AlPO 3
index
27
 Covalent
Compounds
Water
Molecule

Hydrogen Oxygen Hydrogen

Atom Atom Atom
index
28
Covalent Compounds
Two nonmetals share electrons so both
have 8 valence electrons. Exception: H
Neither takes on a charge - no valence.
Do not crisscross to determine formula.
Must use prefixes in the name.
Name tells you the formula. Example:
N2O4 is dinitrogen tetroxide.
You cannot reduce the formulas!!!
index
29
Reaction between hydrogen + oxygen
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

1+ 8+
1+ 1+ + 8+

2 Hydrogen Atoms Oxygen Atom Water Molecule 1+

index
30
The Space Shuttle
Oxygen

Hydrogen

Water Vapor

Exothermic
Reaction

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
index
31
 Covalent Prefixes
Mon - 1 Tetra - 4
Di - 2 Pent - 5
Tri - 3 Hex - 6
A prefix tells you the number of
atoms of that element
in the compound.
index
32
 Naming
Covalent Compounds
N2O3 Dinitrogen trioxide
CH 4 Carbon tetrahydride
PO5 Phosphorus pentoxide
S2F3 disulfur trifluoride

index
33
Ionic and Covalent Structure
Ionic compounds Water
H atoms
form a crystalline
lattice - a repeating O atom

pattern of ions. Covalent compounds

+3
B ions form individual
N-3 ions molecules that are
not connected to
Boron nitride each other.
index
34
 Naming Binary Compounds
Does the compound have a metal?

Yes No
Ionic Covalent
(Metal cation + Nonmetal anion) (Two Nonmetals)
Place metal first followed by nonmetal ending in -ide

Contain a Transition Metal? Place the nonmetal furthest to the

left on the periodic table first, then
Yes No the other nonmetal ending in -ide.
Use Roman Do not use Use prefixes to tell the number of
Numerals to tell Roman atoms in the compound
the valence of Numerals mon(o)-1, di-2, tri-3, tetr(a)-4,
the metal. pent(a)-5, hex-6
Examples:
Examples: Examples:
sodium chloride
iron(III) oxide dinitrogen trioxide, nitrogen trichloride,
magnesium nitride
copper(II) chloride phosphorus pentoxide, sulfur dioxide
aluminum fluoride
manganese(IV) oxide carbon tetrachloride, dihydrogen oxide
beryllium oxide
silver(I) chloride

index
35
 Name these compounds:

CoF2 cobalt(II) fluoride

PCl 3 phorphorus trichloride

Sr3N 2 strontium nitride

KOH potassium hydroxide

NH3 nitrogen trihydride

36
Write formulas for these compounds:

Zn3N2 zinc(II) nitride

LiBr lithium bromide

N2O5 dinitrogen pentoxide

MnS2 manganese(IV) sulfide

H2O dihydrogen oxide

37
 Summing up: Ionic
Ionic bonding occurs between a metal and
a nonmetal. Metals lose all their valence e-
and become cations. Nonmetals gain
enough e- to fill their valence level and
become anions.
Always crisscross valences and reduce to
determine the formulas of ionic compounds
Do not use prefixes in the names.
Ions form a crystalline lattice.
index
38
Summing up: Covalent
Covalent bonding occurs when two nonmetals
share electrons to fill their valence energy
level.
Never use valence to determine the formula -
there isn’t any valence. Since the two atoms
share electrons, they do not take on a
charge.
Always use prefixes in the names.
Atoms combine to form individual molecules.
index
39
 And now -
A special type of
Covalent Compound!

40
 Water: A Polar Molecule
Polar covalent compounds have a partial charge at each end of the molecule.

A water The hydrogen

molecule is polar end of the
because the 8
δ + charge molecule
protons in the 1+ 1+ becomes
H H
oxygen nucleus charged partial
pull the 10
electrons closer
to the oxygen
O8+
positive. This is
due to the
protons of the
end of the hydrogen atoms
molecule, giving sticking out near
it a partial δ - charge that end of the
negative charge. molecule. index
41
 Water: A Polar Molecule

Explanation:
As you comb your hair you strip electrons off
your hair. Your comb, collecting these electrons,
becomes negatively charged.
when you place a negatively charged comb near a
stream of water, the partial positively charged
end (hydrogen end) of a water molecule are
attracted and pulled towards the comb. index
42
 Why does
δ+ δ-
n a comb
e
g
δ+
δ-
attract a
a
t stream of
i δ-
v
e
water?
δ+
δ+
l
y δ-

H
c δ+
H
h
a
r
δ-
0
g δ+ δ-
e

δ-
d

δ+ δ- index
43
 Surface Tension

∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞- ∞-
∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+ ∞+
The partially + charged hydrogen end of a water
molecule is attracted to the partially - charged
oxygen end of another molecule. At the surface
this causes surface tension. To enter the water,
one must break apart this attraction.
What animal makes use of surface tension? index
44
 Chemical Formulas Index
Types of Compounds
Ionic Compounds Covalent Compounds
Valence Covalent Prefixes
Transition Metals
Lattice & Molecules
Steps in Writing
a Formula Naming Flowchart
Polyatomic Ions Polar Molecules
Summing Up
index
45