1

IR-4 Formulae (Draft March 2004)

CONTENTS

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IR-4.1 Introduction

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IR-4.2 Definitions of types of formula
IR-4.2.1 Empirical formulae

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IR-4.2.2 Molecular formulae
IR-4.2.3 Structural formulae and the use of enclosing marks in formulae

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IR-4.2.4 Formulae of addition compounds
IR-4.2.5 Solid state structural information

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IR-4.3 Indication of ionic charge
IR-4.4 Sequence of citation of symbols in formulae

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IR-4.4.1 Introduction
IR-4.4.2 Ordering principles
IR-4.4.2.1 Electronegativity
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IR-4.4.2.2 Alphabetical order
IR-4.4.3 Formulae for specific classes of compounds
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IR-4.4.3.1 Binary compounds

IR-4.4.3.2 (Formal) treatment as coordination compounds
IR-4.4.3.3 Chain compounds
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IR-4.4.3.4 Generalised salt formulae

IR-4.4.3.5 Addition compounds, multiple salts, and solvates
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IR-4.4.4 Use of ligand abbreviations

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IR-4.5 Isotopically modified compounds

IR-4.5.1 General formalism
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IR-4.5.2 Isotopically substituted compounds

IR-4.5.3 Isotopically labelled compounds
IR-4.5.3.1 Types of labelling
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IR-4.5.3.2 Specifically labelled compounds

IR-4.5.3.3 Selectively labelled compounds
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IR-4.6 Optional modifiers of formulae

IR-4.6.1 Indication of oxidation state
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IR-4.6.2 Formulae of radicals

IR-4.6.3 Formulae of optically active compounds
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IR-4.6.4 Indication of excited states

IR-4.6.5 Structural descriptors
IR-4.7 References

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IR-4.1 INTRODUCTION

Formulae (empirical, molecular, and structural formulae as described below) provide a simple

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and clear method of designating compounds. They are of particular importance in chemical

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equations and in descriptions of chemical procedures. In order to avoid ambiguity and for

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many other purposes, e.g. in databases, indexing, etc., standardisation is recommended.

IR-4.2 DEFINITIONS OF TYPES OF FORMULA

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IR-4.2.1 Empirical formulae

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The empirical formula of a compound is formed by juxtaposition of the atomic symbols with

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appropriate (integer) subscripts to give the simplest possible formula expressing the
composition. For the order of citation of symbols in formulae, see Section IR-4.4, but, in the

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absence of any other ordering criterion (for example, if little structural information is
available), the alphabetical order of atomic symbols should be used in an empirical formula,
except that in carbon-containing compounds, C and H are usually cited first and second,
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respectively.1
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Examples:
1. BrClH3N2NaO2Pt
2. C10H10ClFe
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IR-4.2.2 Molecular formulae

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For compounds consisting of discrete molecules, the molecular formula, as opposed to the
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empirical formula, may be used to indicate the actual composition of the molecules. For the
order of citation of symbols in molecular formulae, see Section IR-4.4.
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The choice of formula depends on the chemical context. In some cases, the empirical formula
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may also correspond to a molecular composition, in which case the only possible difference
between the two formulae is the ordering of the atomic symbols. If it is not desirable or
possible to specify the composition, e.g. in the case of polymers, a letter subscript such as n
C

may be used.
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Examples:
Molecular formula Empirical formula
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1. S8 S
2. Sn S
3. SF6 F 6S
3. S2Cl2 ClS

DRAFT 2 April 2004 Page 2 of 17

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4. H 4P 2O 6 H 2O 3P
5. Hg2Cl2 ClHg
6. N 2O 4 NO2

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IR-4.2.3 Structural formulae and the use of enclosing marks in formulae

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A structural formula gives partial or complete information about the way in which the atoms
in a molecule are connected and arranged in space. In simple cases, a line formula that is just

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a sequence of atomic symbols gives structural information provided the reader knows that the
formula represents the order of the atoms in the linear structure.

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Examples:
1. HOCN (empirical formula CHNO)
2. HNCO (empirical formula also CHNO)

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3. HOOH (empirical formula HO)

As soon as the compound has even a slightly more complex structure, it becomes necessary
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to use enclosing marks in line formulae to separate subgroups of atoms. Different enclosing
marks must be used for repeating units and sidechains in order to avoid ambiguity.
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The basic rules for applying enclosing marks in structural formula are as follows:
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(i) Repeating units in chain compounds are enclosed in square brackets.

(ii) Side groups to a main chain and groups (ligands) attached to a central atom
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are enclosed in parentheses (except single atoms when there is no ambiguity

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regarding their attachment in the structure, e.g. hydrogen in hydrides with a chain
structure).
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(iii) A formula or part of a formula which represents a molecular entity may be

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placed in enclosing marks. If an entire formula is enclosed, square brackets must be

used, except if rule (v) applies.
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(iv) A part of a formula which is to be multiplied by a subscript may also be

enclosed in parentheses or braces, except in the case of repeating units in chain
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compounds, cf. rule (i).

(v) In the case of polymers, if the bonds between repeating units are to be shown,
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the repeating unit is enclosed in strike-through parentheses, with the dash

superimposed on the parentheses representing the bond. (If this is typographically
inconvenient, dashes can be placed before and after the parentheses).

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(vi) Inside square brackets, enclosing marks are nested as follows:

( ), {( )}, ({( )}), {({( )})}, etc.

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(vii) Atoms or groups of atoms which are represented together with a prefixed

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symbol, e.g. a structural modifier such as 'µ', are placed within enclosing marks, using
the nesting order ( ), {( )}, ({( )}), {({( )})}, etc.

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The use of enclosing marks for the specification of isotopic substitution is described in

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Section IR-4.5.

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Compared to line formulae, displayed formulae (Example 13 below) give more (or full)
information about the structure.

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(The rules needed for ordering the symbols in some of the example formulae below are given

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in Section IR-4.4.3.)

Examples:
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4. SiH3[SiH2]8SiH3 [rule (i)]
5. SiH3[SiH2]6SiH(SiH3)SiH3 [rules (i) and (ii)]
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6. Ca3(PO4)2 [rule (iv)]

7. [Co(NH3)6]2(SO4)3 [rules (iii), (iv), (vi)]
8. [{Rh(µ-Cl)(CO)2}2] [rules (iii), (vi), (vii)]
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9. K[Os(N)3] [rules (ii), (iii)]

10. (S)n [rule (v)]
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11. (HBO2)n, or (B(OH)O)n [rules (ii) and (v)]

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12. ([PdCl2])n, or
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Cl
Pd
Pr

Cl
n
C

13.
Cl PPh3
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Ni
Cl PPh3
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14. NaCl
15. [NaCl]

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The first formula in each of Examples 11 and 12 may be considered to be molecular

formulae (Section IR-4.2.2) with no implications about the structure of the polymers in
question.

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In Examples 14 and 15, the formula [NaCl] may be used to distinguish the molecular

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compound consisting of one sodium atom and one chlorine atom from the solid with the
composition NaCl.

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IR-4.2.4 Formulae of addition compounds

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In the formulae of addition compounds, including multiple salts and solvates (particularly

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hydrates), a special format is used. The proportions of constituents are indicated by arabic
numerals preceding the formulae of the constituents, and the formulae of the constituents are
separated by a centre dot. The rules for ordering the constituent formulae are described in
Section IR-4.4.3.5.

Examples:
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1. Na2CO3.10H2O
2. 8H2S.46H2O
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3. BMe3.NH3

IR-4.2.5 Solid state structural information

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Structural information can also be given by indicating structural type as a qualification of a

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molecular formula (see Section IR-11.7.2). For example, polymorphs may be indicated by
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adding in parentheses an abbreviated expression for the crystal system. Structures may also
be designated by adding the name of a type-compound in italics in parentheses, but such
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usage may not be unambiguous. There are at least ten varieties of ZnS(h). Where several
polymorphs crystallise in the same crystal system they may be differentiated by the Pearson
symbol (see Sections IR-3.5.3 and IR-11.5.2). Greek letters are frequently employed to
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designate polymorphs, but their use is often confused and contradictory and is not
recommended.
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Examples:
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1. TiO2(t) (anatase type)

2. TiO2(r) (brookite type)
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3. AuCd(c), or AuCd (CsCl type)

For the formulae of solid solutions and non-stoichiometric phases, see Chapter IR-11.

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IR-4.3 INDICATION OF IONIC CHARGE

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Ionic charge is indicated by means of a right upper index, as in An+ or An (not A+n or A n).

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If the formula is placed in enclosing marks, the right upper index is placed outside the

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enclosing marks. For polymeric ions, the charge of a single repeating unit should be placed
inside the parentheses that comprise the polymeric structure or the total charge of the

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polymeric species should be placed outside the polymer parentheses. (The rules needed for
ordering the symbols in some of the example formulae below are given in Section IR-4.4.3.)

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Examples:

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_
1. Cu+ 7. As3

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_
2. Cu2+ 8. HF2
_
3. NO+ 9. CN
_

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4. [Al(H2O)6]3+ 10. S 2O 72
_
5. H2NO3+ 11. [Fe(CN)6]4
_
6. [PCl4]+ 12. [PW12O40]3
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_ _
13. [P3O10]5 , or [O3POP(O)2OPO3]5 , or
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5-
O O O
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O P O P O P O
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O O O
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_
14. ([CuCl3] )n, or
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n-
Cl
Pr

Cu Cl
Cl
n
C
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IR-4.4 SEQUENCE OF CITATION OF SYMBOLS IN FORMULAE

IR-4.4.1 Introduction
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Atomic symbols in formulae may be ordered in various ways. Section IR-4.4.3 describes the
conventions usually adopted for some important classes of compounds. As a prerequisite,

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Section IR-4.4.2 explains what is meant by the two ordering principles 'electronegativity' and
'alphabetical ordering'.

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IR-4.4.2 Ordering principles

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IR-4.4.2.1 Electronegativity

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If electronegativity is taken as the ordering principle in a formula or a part of a formula, the

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atomic symbols are cited according to relative electronegativities, the least electronegative
element being cited first. For this purpose, Table VI* is used as a guide, except that oxygen is

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placed between chlorine and fluorine.

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IR-4.4.2.2 Alphabetical order

A single letter symbol always precedes a two-letter symbol with the same initial letter, e.g. B

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before Be, O before OH. The group NH4 is treated as a single symbol and so is listed after
Na, for example.
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Where the entities to be arranged in a formula are polyatomic, the order of citation is decided
by selecting a particular atomic symbol to characterise the entity. The first symbol in the
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formula of a polyatomic group, as written according to the appropriate rule in Section IR-
4.4.3, determines the alphabetical order. For example, C5H5, SCN, UO2, NO3, OH, and
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[Zn(H2O)6]2+ are ordered under C, S, U, N, O, and Zn, respectively. If the first symbols are
the same, the symbol with the lesser right index is cited first, e.g. NO2 precedes N2O2. If this
still does not discriminate, the subsequent symbols are used alphabetically and numerically to
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define the order, e.g. NH2 precedes NO2 which precedes NO3.
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To summarise and exemplify, the order of citation of some nitrogen-containing compounds

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is:
_ _ _ _ _ _
N3 , NH2 , NH3, NO2 , NO3 , N2O22 , N3 .
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IR-4.4.3. Formulae for specific classes of compounds

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IR-4.4.3.1 Binary compounds

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In accordance with established practice, the electronegativity criterion (Section IR-4.4.2.1) is

generally used in binary compounds.2
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Examples:

* Tables numbered with a Roman numeral are collected together at the end of this
book.

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 8

1. NH3
2. H 2S
3. OF2

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4. Cl2O

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_
5. ClO

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6. PH4+
_
7. P 2O 74

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_
8. [SiAs4]8
9. RbBr

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_
10. [Re2Cl9]

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_ _
11. HO or OH

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Note that the formula for the hydroxide ion should be HO to be consistent with the above

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convention.

12. Rb15Hg16
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13. Cu5Zn8 and Cu5Cd8
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Ordering by electronegativity could, in principle, be applied to ternary, quaternary, etc.

compounds. For most compounds consisting of more than two elements, however, other
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criteria for ordering the element symbols in the formula are more often used (see Sections
IR-4.4.3.2 to IR-4.4.3.4).
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IR-4.4.3.2 (Formal) treatment as coordination compounds

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The nomenclature of coordination compounds is described in detail in Chapter IR-9. A brief

summary of the construction of formulae of coordination compounds is given here. Many
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polyatomic compounds may conveniently be treated as coordination compounds for the

purpose of constructing a formula.
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In the formula of a coordination entity, the symbol of the central atom(s) is/are placed first,
followed by the symbols or formulae of the ligands, unless additional structural information
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can be presented by changing the order (see, for example, Section IR-4.4.3.3).
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The order of citation of central atoms is based on electronegativity as described in Section IR-
4.4.2.1. Ligands are cited alphabetically (Section IR-4.4.2.2) according to the first symbol of
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the ligand formula or ligand abbreviation (see Section IR-4.4.4) as written. Where possible,
the ligand formula should be written in such a way that a/the donor atom is closest to the
central atom to which it is attached.

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Square brackets may be used to enclose the whole coordination entity whether charged or not.
Established practice is always to use square brackets for coordination entities with a transition

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metal as the central atom.

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Examples:

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1. PBrCl2
2. SbCl2F or [SbCl2F]

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_
3. [Mo6O18]2
_
4. [CuSb2]5

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5. [UO2]2+

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_
6. [SiW12O40]4
_
7. [BH4]
_

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8. [ICl4]
9. [PtCl2{P(OEt)3}2]
10. [Al(OH)(OH2)5]2+
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_
11. [PtBrCl(NH3)(NO2)]
12. [PtCl2(NH3)(py)]
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13. [Co(en)F2(NH3)2]+, but [CoF2(NH2CH2CH2NH2)(NH3)2]+

_
14. [Co(NH3)5(N3)]2
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In a few cases, a moiety which comprises different atoms and which occurs in a series of
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compounds is considered as an entity that acts as a central atom and is cited as such, even if
this violates the alphabetical order of ligands. For example, PO and UO2 are regarded as
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single entities in Examples 15 and 16.

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Examples:
15. POBr3 (alphabetically, PBr3O)
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16. [UO2Cl2] (alphabetically, [UCl2O2])

For derivatives of parent hydrides, the alphabetical order of ligands is traditionally disobeyed
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in that remaining hydrogen atoms are listed first among the ligands in the formula.
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Examples:
17. GeH2F2
18. SiH2BrCl
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19. B2H5Cl

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For carbaboranes, there has previously been some uncertainty over the order of B and C.3
The order 'B before C' recommended here conforms to both electronegativity and
alphabetical order (i.e. it is an exception to the Hill order1 in Section IR-4.2.1). In addition,

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carbon atoms that replace skeletal boron atoms are cited immediately after boron, regardless

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of what other elements are present. (See also Section IR-6.2.4.4).

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Examples:
20. B3C2H5 (recommended)

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21. B3C2H4Br (recommended)

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For inorganic oxoacids, there is a traditional ordering of formulae in which the 'acid' or

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'replaceable' hydrogen atoms (hydrogen atoms bound to oxygen) are listed first, followed by
the central atom, then 'non-replaceable' hydrogen atoms (hydrogen atoms bound directly to
the central atom), and finally oxygen. This format is an alternative to writing the formulae as

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coordination compound formulae (see Section IR-8.3).

Examples:
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22. HNO3 (traditional) or [NO2(OH)] (coordination)
23. H2PHO3 (traditional) or [PHO(OH)2] (coordination)
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_ _
24. H2PO4 (traditional) or [PO2(OH)2] (coordination)
25. H5P3O10 (traditional) or
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[(HO)2P(O)OP(O)(OH)OP(O)(OH)2] (coordination)
26. (HBO2)n (traditional) or (B(OH)O)n (coordination)
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IR-4.4.3.3 Chain compounds

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For chain compounds containing three or more different elements, the sequence of atomic
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symbols should generally be in accord with the order in which the atoms are bound in the
molecule or ion, rather than using alphabetical order or order based on electronegativity.
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However, if one wishes to view a compound formally as a coordination compound, e.g. in

connection with a discussion of additive naming of the compound, one may use a
coordination-compound type of formula, as in Example 1 below.
C
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Examples:
_ _ _
1. SCN (not CNS ) = [C(N)S] , nitridosulfidocarbonate(1-)
2. BrSCN (not BrCNS)
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3. HOCN (cyanic acid)

4. HONC (fulminic acid)
_
5. [O3POSO3]3

DRAFT 2 April 2004 Page 10 of 17

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IR-4.4.3.4 Generalised salt formulae

If the formula of a compound containing three or more elements is not naturally assigned

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using the preceding two sections, the compound can be treated as a generalised salt. This

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term is taken to mean any compound in which it is possible to identify at least one

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constituent which is a positive ion or can be classified as electropositive or more
electropositive than the other constituents, and at least one constituent which is a negative ion

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or can be classified as electronegative or more electronegative than the rest of the
constitutents. The ordering principle is then:

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(i) all electropositive constituents precede all electronegative constituents;

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(ii) within each of the two groups of constituents, alphabetical order is used.

Examples:

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1. KMgF3
2. MgCl(OH)
3. FeO(OH)
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4. NaTl(NO3)2
5. Li[H2PO4]
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6. NaNH4[HPO4]
7. Na[HPHO3]
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8. CuK5Sb2 or K5CuSb2
9. K5[CuSb2]
10. H[AuCl4]
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11 Na(UO2)3[Zn(H2O)6](O2CMe)9
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The first formula in Example 8 was arrived at by considering K and Cu to be electropositive

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constituents and Sb to be electronegative, the second by considering K to be electropositive

and Cu and Sb to be electronegative. No structural information is conveyed by these
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formulae. The formula in Example 9, on the other hand, implies the presence of a molecular
_
entity or coordination entity [CuSb2]5 .
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Deviation from alphabetical order of constituents in the same class is allowed to emphasise
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similarities between compounds.

Example:
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12. CaTiO3 and ZnTiO3 (rather than TiZnO3)

Some generalised salts may also be treated as addition compounds, see Section IR-4.4.3.5.

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IR-4.4.3.5 Addition compounds, multiple salts and solvates

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In the formulae of addition compounds, multiple salts and solvates, the component molecules

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or entities are cited in order of increasing number; if they occur in equal numbers, they are
cited in alphabetical order of the first symbols. In addition compounds containing water, the

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water remains conventionally cited last. However, boron compounds are no longer treated as
exceptions.

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Examples:

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1. 3CdSO4.8H2O

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2. Na2CO3.10H2O
3. Al2(SO4)3.K2SO4.24H2O
4. AlCl3.4EtOH

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5. 8H2S.46H2O
6. C6H6.NH3.Ni(CN)2
7. BF3.2H2O
ec
8. BF3.2MeOH
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IR-4.4.4 Ligand abbreviations

Since abbreviations are widely used in the chemical literature, agreement on their use and
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meaning is desirable. This Section provides guidelines for the selection of ligand
abbreviations for application in the formulae of coordination compounds (Section IR-
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9.2.3.4). Some commonly used ligand abbreviations are listed in Table VII with diagrams of
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most of the ligands shown in Table VIII.

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An abbreviation for an organic ligand should be derived from a name consistent with the
current rules for the systematic nomenclature of organic compounds.4 (For some ligands a
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non-systematic name is included in Table VII if it was the source of the abbreviation and if
that abbreviation is still commonly used). However, new abbreviations should be constructed
according to the following recommendations:
C
PA

(i) Ligand abbreviations should be formulated so as to avoid confusion and

misunderstanding. Since a reader may not be familiar with an abbreviation, it should be
explained at the beginning of the text or when it first appears in a publication.
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(ii) New meanings should not be suggested for abbreviations or acronyms that have
generally accepted meanings, e.g. DNA, NMR, ESR, HPLC, Me (for methyl), Et (for ethyl),
etc.

DRAFT 2 April 2004 Page 12 of 17

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(iii) An abbreviation should readily suggest the ligand name, e.g. ida for iminodiacetato.

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(iv) Abbreviations should be as short as practicable, but should contain more than one

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letter or symbol.

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(v) The use of non-systematic names (and their abbreviations) is discouraged.

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(vi) Abbreviations should normally use only lower-case letters, with several well
established exceptions:

n
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(a) abbreviations for alkyl, aryl and similar groups, which have the first letter
capitalised with the remaining letters in lower case, e.g. Me (for methyl), Ac (for
acetyl), Cp (for cyclopentadienyl), etc.;

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(b) abbreviations containing atomic symbols, e.g. [12]aneS4;
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(c) abbreviations containing Roman numerals, e.g. H2ppIX for protoporphyrin IX;

(d) abbreviations for ligands containing readily removable hydrons (see vii).
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(N.B. Abbreviations for solvents that behave as ligands should also be in lower case letters
[e.g. dmso for dimethyl sulfoxide{(methylsulfinyl)methane}, thf for tetrahydrofuran]; the
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practice of capitalising the abbreviation of a solvent when it does not behave as a ligand is
strongly discouraged as an unnecessary distinction).
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(vii) Hydronation of anionic ligands, e.g. ida, leads to acids which may be abbreviated by
the addition of H, e.g. Hida, H2ida.
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(viii) Ligands which are normally neutral, but which continue to behave as ligands on
losing one or more hydrons, are abbreviated by adding _1H, _2H, etc. as subscripts
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(including the numeral 1) after the usual abbreviation of the ligand. For example, if
_
Ph2PCH2PPh2 (dppm) loses one hydron to give [Ph2PCHPPh2] its abbreviation is
C

dppm_lH; if it loses two hydrons, its abbreviation is dppm_2H, etc.

PA

IR-4.5 ISOTOPICALLY MODIFIED COMPOUNDS.5

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IR-4.5.1 General formalism

The mass number of any specific nuclide can be indicated in the usual way with a left
superscript preceding the appropriate atomic symbol (see Section IR-3.2).

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When it is necessary to cite different nuclides at the same position in a formula, the nuclide
symbols are written in alphabetical order; when their atomic symbols are identical the order is

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that of increasing mass number. Isotopically modified compounds may be classified as

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isotopically substituted compounds and isotopically labelled compounds.

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IR-4.5.2 Isotopically substituted compounds

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An isotopically substituted compound has a composition such that all the molecules of the
compound have only the indicated nuclide(s) at each designated position. The substituted

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nuclides are indicated by insertion of the mass numbers as left superscripts preceding the

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appropriate atom symbols in the normal formula.

Examples:
1. H3HO 5. 32PCl3

2.
3.
H36Cl
235UF6
6.
7. omK[32PF6]
K342K[Fe(14CN)6]
ec
4. 42KNa14CO3

IR-4.5.3 Isotopically labelled compounds

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IR-4.5.3.1 Types of labelling

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An isotopically labelled compound may be considered formally as a mixture of an

isotopically unmodified compound and one or more analogous isotopically substituted
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compounds. They may be divided into several different types. Specifically labelled
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compounds and selectively labelled compounds are treated here.

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IR-4.5.3.2 Specifically labelled compounds

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An isotopically labelled compound is called a specifically labelled compound when a unique

isotopically substituted compound is added formally to the analogous isotopically
unmodified compound. A specifically labelled compound is indicated by enclosing the
C

appropriate nuclide symbol(s) and multiplying subscript (if any) in square brackets.
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Examples:
1. H[36Cl] 4. [13C]O[17O]
IU

2. [32P]Cl3 5. [32P]O[18F3]
3. [15N]H2[2H] 6. Ge[2H2]F2

IR-4.5.3.3 Selectively labelled compounds

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A selectively labelled compound may be considered as a mixture of specifically labelled

compounds. It is indicated by prefixing the formula by the nuclide symbol(s) preceded by

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any necessary locant(s) (but without multiplying subscripts) enclosed in square brackets.

n
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Examples:
1. [36Cl]SOCl2
[2H]PH3

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2.
3. [10B]B2H5Cl

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The number of possible labels for a given position may be indicated by subscripts separated

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by semicolons added to the atomic symbol(s) in the isotopic descriptor.

Example:

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4. [1-2H1;2]SiH3OSiH2OSiH3

IR-4.6 OPTIONAL MODIFIERS OF FORMULAE

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IR-4.6.1 Oxidation state
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The oxidation state of an element in a formula may be indicated by an oxidation number

written as a right upper index (superscript) in Roman numerals. Oxidation state zero may be
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represented by the numeral 0 but is not usually shown. If an element occurs with more than
one oxidation state in the same formula, the element symbol is repeated, each symbol being
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assigned a number cited in sequence in increasing magnitude and from negative to positive.
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Examples:
_
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1. [PV2Mo18O62]6 4. PbII2PbIVO4
_
2. K[OsVIII(N)O3] 5. Na2O I2
Pr

_
3. [MoV2MoVI4O18]2 6. [Os0(CO)5]

Where it is not feasible or reasonable to define an oxidation state for each individual member
C

of a group (or cluster), the overall oxidation level of the group should be defined by a formal
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ionic charge, indicated as in Section IR-4.3. This avoids the use of fractional oxidation states.

Examples:
IU

_
7. O2 8. Fe4S43+

IR-4.6.2 Formulae of radicals

Page 15 of 17 DRAFT 2 April 2004

 16

A radical is an atom or molecule with one or more unpaired electrons. It may have positive,
negative or zero charge. An unpaired electron may be indicated in a formula by a superscript

s
dot. The dot is placed as a right upper index to the chemical symbol, so as not to interfere

n
with indications of mass number, atomic number or composition. In the case of diradicals,

tio
etc., the superscript dot is preceded by the appropriate superscript multiplier. The radical dot
with its multiplier, if any, precedes any charge. To avoid confusion, the multiplier and the

da
radical dot can be placed within parentheses.

Metals and their ions or complexes often possess unpaired electrons but, by convention, they

n
are not considered to be radicals, and radical dots are not used in their formulae. However,

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there may be occasions when a radical ligand is bound to a metal or metal ion where it is
desirable to use a radical dot.

Examples:
1.
2.
H•
HO •
5.
6.
O 2•−om
BH 3•+
ec
3. NO 2• 7. PO3•2−
4. O 22• 8. NO(2•)−
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IR-4.6.3 Formulae of optically active compounds

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The sign of optical rotation is placed in parentheses, the wavelength (in nm) being indicated
as a right subscript. The whole symbol is placed before the formula and refers to the sodium
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D-line unless otherwise stated.

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Examples:
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1. (+)589[Co(en)3]Cl3
2. (_)589[Co{(_)NH2CH(CH3)CH2NH2}3]Cl3
Pr

IR-4.6.4 Indication of excited states

C

Excited electronic states may be indicated by an asterisk as right superscript. This practice
does not differentiate between different excited states.
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Examples:
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1. He*
2. NO*

IR-4.6.5 Structural descriptors

DRAFT 2 April 2004 Page 16 of 17

 17

Structural descriptors such as cis-, trans-, etc., are listed in Table V. Usually such descriptors
are used as italicised prefixes and are connected to the formula by a hyphen.

n s
Examples:

tio
1. cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2]
2. trans-[PtCl4(NH3)2]

da
The descriptor µ designates an atom or group bridging coordination centres.

n
Example:

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3. [(H3N)5Cr(µ-OH)Cr(NH3)5]5+

IR-4.8 REFERENCES

1.
2. om
This is the so-called Hill order. See, E.A. Hill, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 22, 479 (1900).
For intermetallic compounds, earlier recommendations prescribed alphabetical ordering
rather than by electronegativity (see Section I-4.6.6 of Nomenclature of Inorganic
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Chemistry, Recommendations 1990, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1990).
3. For example, the ordering of B and C in formulae was inconsistent in Nomenclature of
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Inorganic Chemistry, Recommendations 1990, Blackwell Scientific Publications,

Oxford, 1990.
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4. Title of New Blue Book needed to replace:Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry,

1979 edition, p. 480, Rule E-4.4.
5. Chapter II-2 of Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry II, Recommendations 2000,
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Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001.

isi
ov
Pr
C
PA
IU

Page 17 of 17 DRAFT 2 April 2004