How are formulas for binary molecular compounds written?

Answer 1

A binary ionic compound is a salt consisting of only two elements in which both elements are ions.

The first written is the (mostly metallic) cation followed by the anionic non-metal ion. Its name is recognized by the word ending '-ide'.

Example: Sodium chloride for NaCl (Na+Cl-) and Silicon oxide SiO2 ( Si4+(O2-)2 )

Answer 2

A binary compound has two atoms in it eg sodium chloride, NaCl; hydrogen, H2; The symbols of the two atoms are written - the more electronegative element symbol is written second if there is a choice to be made ie metals go first.

Answer 3

Ionic compounds are typically written with the atomic symbol of the metal(s) followed by the atomic symbol of the nonmetal(s) in the compound. For example, NaCl where Na is the metal and Cl is the nonmetal.

Answer 4

Formulas for ionic compounds with polyatomic ions are written just like normal ionic compounds would be written like. For example, lets say your ionic compound is Ammonium nitrate. The formula for ammonium is NH4 and the formula for nitrate is NO3. The chemical formula of Ammonium nitrate will therefore be NH4NO3 because ammonium has a positive charge of +1 and nitrate has a charge of -1, thus becoming neutral and forms the ionic compound Ammonium nitrate. If your compound is something like Barium hydroxide, the formula would be Ba(OH)2 because Barium(Ba) has a charge of +2 and Hydroxide(OH) has a charge of -1. In order to neutralize the charges, you need 2 hydroxides so the subscript 2 is present. The reason the subscript is outside the parenthesis is because the subscript 2 applies to both O and H in the hydroxide poly atomic ion.

Answer 5

The symbols of the two atoms are written - the more electronegative element symbol is written second if there is a choice to be made ie metals go first.

Answer 6

The element or elements that form a cation in the compound are written first.

Answer 7

Binary molecular compounds are formed from the reaction between two nonmetals. The formulas for binary molecular compounds are written in a similar manner with ionic compounds.