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Chemical formulas. The secret language of chemists. Definitions. Cation – positively charged ion (all metals form cations) Anion – negatively charged ion (non-metals form anions) Polyatomic ion – an ion (usually negative) that has more than one atom. Ex NO 3 - , OH -.
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Chemical formulas The secret language of chemists.
Definitions • Cation – positively charged ion (all metals form cations) • Anion – negatively charged ion (non-metals form anions) • Polyatomic ion – an ion (usually negative) that has more than one atom. Ex NO3-, OH-
Rules for ionic formulas Ex. NaCl H2O CaO • The cation is written first, then the anion. • All compounds are neutral so the sum of the charges must be zero. • Subscripts indicate the number of that atom present in the compound. • Formulas are written with subscripts that have the smallest whole number ratio.
Naming acids • Acids are compounds that are capable of producing an H+ ion when they break apart. • There are two types of acid – those which contain oxygen and those that do not.
Acids that do not contain oxygen • Acids that do not contain oxygen are made of hydrogen and one other element. • HCl HF • To name these acids, write the prefix hydro- followed by the root name of the other element, followed by the suffix – ic acid. Hydrochloric acid hydrofluoric acid
Acids that contain oxygen • Acids that contain oxygen are made of hydrogen and a polyatomic ion. • H2SO4 HNO2 • If the polyatomic ion ends with –ate, the acid’s name ends with –ic, if the polyatomic ends with –ite, then the acid’s name ends with –ous. (ateic iteous) • SO4 is sulfate so it is sulfuric acid • NO2 is nitrite so it is nitrous acid
Writing formulas from names Use the acid name to determine what the anion is, and determine the formula when combined with H+ Sulfuric acid hydrofluoric acid H+ (SO4)2- H+ F- H2SO4 HF