NOTES:
FROM ATOMS TO COMPOUND
Chemical Symbols and chemical formula
chemical symbol, short notation derived from the scientific name of a chemical element—e.g., S for sulfur
and Si for silicon. Sometimes the symbol is derived from the Latin name—e.g., Au for aurum, gold,
and Na for natrium, sodium.
Element
is a substance that contains one kind of atom only such as oxygen atom, carbon atom, and a chlorine atom.
Compound
is a substance that contains atoms of more than one elements and these are chemically combined in definite or
fixed proportion. Example are carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and sodium chloride (NaCl).
Molecule
A molecule is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically.
Diatomic molecules are made of two atoms of the same element.
Hydrogen – H2
Oxygen – O2
What is the difference between the compound and a molecule?
A molecule is formed when two or more atoms join together chemically.
A compound is a molecule that contains at least two different elements.
All compounds are molecules but not all molecules are compounds.
Molecular hydrogen (H2), molecular oxygen (O2) and molecular nitrogen (N2) are not compounds because each
is composed of a single element.
Water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are compounds because each is made from more than
one element.
Just like atoms, molecules are electrically neutral; that is, they have equal number of protons and electrons.
When an atom or a molecule acquires a net charge, it becomes an ion.
Ion is an atom or a group of atoms having a positive or negative charge
A positive ion results from the loss of one or more electrons. It is called a cation.
Example: Sodium ions (Na+)
A negative ion results from the gain of one or more electrons.
Example: Chloride ions (Cl-)
Writing and Naming of Chemical Formula
Ions can be made up of only one atom (monoatomic) or more than one type of atom (polyatomic). Monoatomic
are named based on the element.
How do we name ions?
a. For cations > the name of the element is unchanged.
> If the element can form two ions of different charges, the name which is usually derived from
its Latin name, is modified by the suffix (-ic) for the ion with the higher charge, and (-ous) for that with
the lower charge.
Example: Cu+ - Cuprous ion or Copper (I)
Cu2+ - Cupric ion or Copper (II)
b. For anions > the name of the element is modified by the suffix (-ide).
Example: H- - Hydride ion
O2- - Oxide ion
Table 1. Examples of Anion and their Oxidation No.
Several anions are polyatomic and are named based on the atomic constituents and the suffix -ide.
The most common examples are:
a. OH- Hydroxide ion
b. CN- Cyanide ion
Polyatomic anions containing oxygen atoms are named based on the root word of the central (or non-oxygen) atom and
the suffix -ate for the one with more oxygen atoms and -ite for the one with less oxygen atom.
Examples:
a. NO3 - Nitrate ion
b. NO2 - Nitrite ion
c. SO32- - Sulfite ion
d. SO42- - Sulfate ion
e. PO43- - Phosphate ion
Rules in Naming the Chemical Formula:
1. Compounds – two or more elements chemically combined.
A. Binary compounds – made up of two elements and classified as Ionic and Molecular
Ionic – made up of cation and anion (Metal + Non-metal)
Rules: Metal + non-metal stem + “-ide”
Example:
NaI – Sodium + Iod + ide = Sodium Iodide
MgCl2 – Magnesium + Chlor + ide = Magnesium Chloride
Note:
• For the ionic compounds to electrically neutral, the sum of the charges of each formula must be zero.
• Charge of cation = subscript of anion
Charge of anion = subscript of cation
Example:
K+ and Br - = KBr
Al+3 and O2- = Al2 O3
B. Binary Compound with Varied Oxidation Numbers
• If the metal has varied oxidation no. (transition metals), a classic name and stock name is used.
a. Classic Name - Metal + (“ic” or “ous”) + non-metal stem + “ide”
“ic” – if higher oxidation no.
“ous” – if lower oxidation no.
Example:
Fe 2+ = “-ous” – ferrous ion
Fe 3+ = “-ic” - ferric ion
b. Stock Name – Metal + (oxidation No. in Roman numeral) + non-metal stem + “ide”
Example:
FeCl2 = Iron (II) chlor + ide = Iron (II) chloride
FeCl3 = Iron (III) chlor + ide = Iron (III) chloride
Metal with Varied Oxidation No. (transition metals)
Molecular (two non-metals)
Rules: (Greek prefixes) 1st non-metal + (Greek prefixes) 2nd non-metal + “ide”
Example:
CO2 – Carbon dioxide
SO3 – Sulfur trioxide
N2O5 - Dinitrogen pentoxide
II. Compounds with Polyatomic Ion (Ternary Compounds)
made up of three elements, it follows the same rule of binary ionic compounds.
Rules:
a. Metal + polyatomic ion (ate or ite)
Note: “ate” - higher oxidation no.
“ite” - lower oxidation no.
For Transition Metals (varied O.N)
b. Metal + Classic or Stock name + polyatomic ion (ate or ite)
Example:
[Link]+ and CO32- = Na2(CO3) (sodium + carbonate) = Sodium carbonate
2. NaNO3 = Na+ and NO3- = NaNO3 = Sodium nitrate
3. BaCrO4 = Barium chromate
4. K2SO4 = Potassium sulfate
5. CuS2O3 = Cu+2 and S2O3-2 = CuS2O3 = Cupric thiosulfate or Copper (II) thiosulfate
III. Acids - are substances that yield or produce hydrogen ions (H+ ) when dissolved in water. A formula of acids
contains one or more hydrogen atoms and an anion
a. Binary Acids (Hydro acids) – are made up of hydrogen and any other non-metal.
Aqueous solution: hydro- (root name of the element) -ic + acid
Examples:
HCl(aq) = Hydro + chlor ic + acid = Hydrochloric acid
HI(aq) = Hydro + iod ic + acid = Hydroiodic acid
HF(aq) = Hydro + fluor ic + acid = Hydroflouric acid
Gaseous Form: Hydrogen + nonmetal + “ide”
Examples:
HCl(g) = Hydrogen chloride
HBr(g) = Hydrogen bromide
HI(g) = Hydrogen iodide
H2S(g) = Hydrogen sulfide
b. Ternary Acids (Oxo acids) – are made up of hydrogen and polyatomic ion.
Central atom + suffix (ic or ous) + acid
Examples:
a. HNO3 = Nitric acid
b. HNO2 = Nitrous acid
c. H2SO4 = Sulfuric acid
d. H2SO3 = Sulfurous acid
e. H3PO4 =Phosphoric acid
Exercises/Drill:
A. Naming the Chemical Formula:
1. NO2
2. NaF
3. CaC2O4
4. AlF3
5. K2HPO4
6. CuSO4• 5H2O
B. Writing the Chemical Formula:
1. Nitrogen trichloride
2. Dichlorine pentoxide
3. Manganese (IV) sulfate
4. Carbon monoxide
5. Aluminum carbonate
