06 Chemical Formulae

Question 1

What is the rule for naming compounds between metals and non-metals?

Answer 1

Write down the metal’s name first. Then write down the name of the non-metal and then change the ending to -ide.

Question 2

What is the rule for naming compounds between metals, non-metals and oxygen?

Answer 2

Write down the metal’s name first. Then write down the name of the non-metal and then change the ending to -ate. The ending is basically the oxygen part of the compound.

Question 3

What is the rule for naming compounds between non-metals only?

Answer 3

The element that is furthest to the left of the periodic table (or further down) will be the first element. To name these compounds you need to know the numbers of atoms in each element.

Question 4

Define “valency”.

Answer 4

The no. of electrons that an atom will lose, gain or share in a chemical reaction.