Chemical Formulae

The periodic table is composed of over a hundred elements, 118 in fact, and when these
elements combine they form compounds. This means that there are billions of possible
compounds in existence.
Each compound has a unique chemical formula. It is made up of symbols and numbers. The
chemical formula of a compound is a symbolic representation of its chemical composition.
Chemical formulae provide insight into the elements that constitute the molecules of a compound
and also the ratio in which the atoms of these elements combine to form such molecules. The
symbols tell us which elements are in the compound, and the numbers tell us how many atoms of
each element are in a molecule of the compound. For example, the chemical formula of water,
which is H2O, suggests that two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom to form one
molecule of water.

Importance of Chemical Formulae

 Chemical formulae provide insight into the chemical composition of a compound.
 They also represent the ratios in which the constituent elements combine to form the
compound.
 The chemical formula of a compound is crucial while representing it in a chemical equation.
 Chemical formulae can also be employed to represent ions, free radicals and other chemical
species.

Types of Chemical Formulae

While the term ‘chemical formula’ typically refers to the molecular formula of a compound
(which denotes the total number of atoms of each constituent element in one molecule of the
compound), the compositions of chemical compounds can be expressed in several ways, as listed
in this subsection.

Molecular Formula:
The molecular formula provides insight into the number of elements present in a compound. In
molecular formulae, the elements are denoted by their respective symbols (as in the periodic
table) and the number of atoms of each element in the molecule is written in subscript. For
example- the molecular formula for glucose is C6H12O6.

Empirical Formula:
The empirical formula of a chemical compound represents the ratio of the elements present in
that compound. Empirical formulae are usually obtained based on the analysis of experimental
data. The empirical formula for glucose is CH 2O. Empirical Formulae can be derived from the
molecular formulae.

Structural Formula:
As the name suggests, the structural formula of a chemical compound provides insight into the
arrangement of the atoms in the molecule.

How to write Chemical Formula

In order to write a chemical formula, it is important to know the symbol of the elements present
in the compound, formula of the radicals and the valency of the elements in that compound.
Following points should be kept in mind while writing a chemical formula.

 Most of the compounds are binary compounds, i.e. they have two elements. Compounds with
more than two elements are also known
 An atom with a positive charge is called a cation whereas an atom with a negative charge is
called an anion
 For a compound containing a metal and a non-metal, the metal is named first followed by the
non-metal. For example: NaCl which consists of Na+ (metal ion) and Cl– (non-metal ion)
 Anions having -1 negative charge usually have a suffix as –ide. For example: F– – Floride
 Anions having oxyanions (oxygen + another element) usually have a suffix as –ate. For
example – SO42- (Sulphate)
 When a polyatomic anion has H – ion, bi- or hydrogen is used as a suffix. For example –
HCO3–-Bicarbonate or hydrogen carbonate
 Some polyatomic anions can be named as:
 Chemical Formula Polyatomic Anion
NH2– Amide
PO43- Phosphate
CN– Cyanide

Solved Examples
Problem 1: In one molecule of the compound, determine how many atoms of every element are
present for each one of these chemical formulas.
1. HCN – hydrogen cyanide –It’s a toxic gas
2. C18H21NO3 – codeine, a painkilling drug
3. Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 – Hydroxyapatite, that is present in the enamel of the tooth

Answers:
1. One atom is present in each of the elements hydrogen, carbon and nitrogen, respectively.
Remember that the subscript 1 is understood when no subscript is mentioned.
2. This formula points out that in one molecule of the compound, 18 carbon atoms, 21 hydrogen
atoms, one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms are existent.
3. There are ten calcium atoms. The amounts of phosphorous, hydrogen and oxygen are
affected by the subscripts outside the parentheses. There are six phosphorous atoms and two
hydrogen atoms existent. Oxygen atoms exist in two positions in the formula. There are
overall 26 oxygen atoms: two from the OH subunit (2×1) and 24 from the PO4 subunits (6×4)
 Difference Between An Element And A Compound

List of Chemical Compound Formula

There are several chemical formulae, however, here is a list of most important Chemical
Formulas in chemistry.
No Name of the Chemical Compound Formula
1 Acetic acid formula CH3COOH
2 Aluminium hydroxide formula Al(OH)3
3 Acetate formula CH3COO-
4 Acetone formula C3H6O
5 Aluminium acetate formula C6H9AlO6
6 Aluminium bromide formula AlBr3
7 Aluminium carbonate formula Al2(CO3)3
8 Aluminium chloride formula AlCl3
9 Aluminium fluoride formula AlF3
10 Aluminium formula Al
11 Aluminium iodide formula AlI3
12 Aluminium oxide formula Al2O3
13 Aluminium phosphate formula AlPO4
14 Amino acid formula H2NCHRCOOH
15 Ammonia formula NH3
16 Ammonium dichromate formula Cr2H8N2O7
17 Ammonium acetate formula C2H3O2NH4
18 Ammonium bicarbonate formula NH4HCO3
19 Ammonium bromide formula NH4Br
20 Ammonium carbonate formula (NH4)2CO3
21 Ammonium chloride formula NH4Cl
22 Ammonium hydroxide formula NH4OH
23 Ammonium iodide formula NH4I
24 Ammonium nitrate formula NH4NO3
25 Aluminium sulfide formula Al2S3
26 Ammonium nitrite formula NH4NO2
27 Ammonium oxide formula (NH4)2O
28 Ammonium phosphate formula (NH4)3PO4
29 Ammonium sulfate formula (NH4)2SO4
30 Ammonium sulfide formula (NH4)2S
31 Argon gas formula Ar
32 Ascorbic acid formula C6H8O6
33 Barium acetate formula Ba(C2H3O2)2
34 Barium bromide formula BaBr2
35 Barium chloride formula BaCl2
36 Barium fluoride formula BaF2
37 Barium hydroxide formula Ba(OH)2
38 Barium iodide formula BaI2
39 Barium nitrate formula Ba(NO3)2
40 Barium oxide formula BaO
41 Barium phosphate formula Ba3O8P2
42 Barium sulfate formula BaSO4
43 Benzene formula C6H6
44 Benzoic acid formula C7H6O2
45 Bicarbonate formula CHO3–
46 Bleach formula NaClO
47 Boric acid formula H3BO3
48 Potassium Bromate formula KBrO3
49 Bromic acid formula HBrO3
50 Bromine formula Br
51 Butane formula C4H10
52 Butanoic acid formula C4H8O2
53 Calcium acetate formula C₄H₆CaO₄
54 Calcium bromide formula CaBr2
55 Calcium carbonate formula CaCO3
56 Calcium hydride formula CaH2
57 Calcium hydroxide formula Ca(OH)2
58 Calcium iodide formula CaI2
59 Calcium nitrate formula Ca(NO3)2
60 Calcium oxide formula CaO
61 Carbon monoxide formula CO
62 Carbon tetrachloride formula CCl4
63 Carbonic acid formula H2CO3
64 Calcium phosphate formula Ca3(PO4)2
65 Carbonic acid formula H2CO3
66 Citric acid formula C6H8O7
67 Chlorate formula ClO–3
68 Chlorine formula Cl
69 Chlorine gas formula Cl2
70 Chlorous acid formula HClO2
71 Chromate formula CrO42-
72 Chromic acid formula H2CrO4
73 Citric acid formula C6H8O7
74 Copper ii carbonate formula CuCO3
75 Copper ii nitrate formula Cu(NO3)2
76 Cyanide formula CN–
77 Dichromate formula K2Cr2O7
78 Dihydrogen monoxide formula H2O
79 Dinitrogen monoxide formula N2O
80 Dinitrogen pentoxide formula N2O5
81 Dinitrogen trioxide formula N2O3
82 Ethanol formula C2H5OH
83 Iron oxide formula Fe2O3
84 Ethylene glycol formula C2H6O2
85 Fluorine gas formula F2
86 Aluminum bromide formula AlBr3
87 Aluminum sulfide formula Al2S3
88 Ammonium carbonate formula (NH4)2CO3
89 Ammonium nitrate formula (NH4)(NO3)
90 Ammonium phosphate formula (NH4)3PO4
91 Barium chloride formula BaCl2
92 Barium sulfate formula BaSO4
93 Calcium nitrate formula Ca(NO3)2
94 Carbon monoxide formula CO
95 Carbon tetrachloride formula CCl4
96 Carbonic acid formula H2CO3
97 Hydrofluoric acid formula HF
98 Hydroiodic acid formula HI
99 Hypochlorous acid formula HClO
10 Lithium phosphate formula Li3PO4
0
10 Magnesium nitrate formula MgNO3
1
10 Magnesium phosphate formula Mg3(PO4)2
2
10 Nitrogen monoxide formula NO
3
10 Nitrous acid formula HNO2
4
10 Potassium carbonate formula K2CO3
5
10 Potassium iodide formula KI
6
10 Potassium nitrate formula KNO3
7
10 Potassium phosphate formula KH2PO4
8
10 Sodium carbonate formula Na2CO3
9
11 Sodium oxide formula Na2O
0
11 Fructose chemical formula C6H12O6
1
11 Glycerol formula C3H8O3
2
11 Helium gas formula He
3
11 Hexane formula C6H14
4
11 Hydrobromic acid formula HBr
5
11 Hydrochloric acid formula HCl
6
11 Hydrocyanic acid formula HCN
7
11 Hydrofluoric acid formula HF
8
11 Hydrogen carbonate formula CHO3–
9
12 Hydrogen gas formula H2
0
12 Hydrogen peroxide formula H2O2
1
12 Hydrogen phosphate formula H3PO4
2
12 Hydrogen sulfate formula HSO4–
3
12 Hydroiodic acid formula HI
4
12 Hydrosulfuric acid formula H2SO4
5
12 Hydroxide ion formula OH–
6
12 Hypobromous acid formula HBrO
7
12 Hypochlorite formula NaClO
8
12 Hypochlorous acid formula HClO
9
13 Hypoiodous acid formula HIO
0
13 Iodic acid formula HIO3
1
13 Iodide ion formula I–
2
13 Iodine formula I2
3
13 Iron (iii) nitrate formula Fe(NO3)3
4
13 Iron (ii) oxide formula FeO
5
13 Iron (iii) carbonate formula Fe2(CO3)3
6
13 Iron (iii) hydroxide formula Fe(OH)3
7
13 Iron (iii) oxide formula Fe2O3
8
13 Iron (iii) chloride formula FeCl3
9
14 Lactic acid formula C3H6O3
0
14 Lead acetate formula Pb(C2H3O2)2
1
14 Lead (ii) acetate formula Pb(C2H3O2)2
2
14 Lead iodide formula PbI2
3
14 Lead (iv) oxide formula PbO2
4
14 Lead nitrate formula Pb(NO3)2
5
14 Lithium bromide formula LiBr
6
14 Lithium chloride formula LiCl
7
14 Lithium hydroxide formula LiOH
8
14 Lithium iodide formula LiI
9
15 Lithium oxide formula Li2O
0
15 Lithium phosphate formula Li3PO4
1
15 Magnesium acetate formula Mg(CH3COO)2
2
15 Magnesium bicarbonate formula C2H2MgO6
3
15 Magnesium carbonate formula MgCO3
4
15 Magnesium chloride formula MgCl2
5
15 Magnesium hydroxide formula Mg(OH)2
6
15 Magnesium iodide formula MgI2
7
15 Magnesium nitrate formula Mg(NO3)2
8
15 Magnesium nitride formula Mg3N2
9
16 Magnesium carbonate formula MgCO3
0
16 Magnesium bromide formula MgBr2
1
16 Magnesium oxide formula MgO
2
16 Magnesium phosphate formula Mg3(PO4)2
3
16 Magnesium sulfate formula MgSO4
4
16 Magnesium sulfide formula MgS
5
16 Methane formula CH4
6
16 Methanol formula CH3OH
7
16 Nickel acetate formula Ni(C2H3O2)2
8
16 Nickel nitrate formula Ni(NO3)2
9
17 Nitric acid formula HNO3
0
17 Nitride formula N3–
1
17 Nitrite formula NO2−
2
17 Nitrogen dioxide formula NO2
3
17 Nitrogen monoxide formula NO
4
17 Nitrous acid formula HNO2
5
17 Oxalate formula C2O42−
6
17 Oxalic acid formula H2C2O4
7
17 Oxygen formula O2
8
17 Ozone formula O3
9
18 Perbromic acid formula HBrO4
0
18 Potassium Permanganate formula KMnO4
1
18 Permanganate ion formula MnO4–
2
18 Phosphate formula PO43-
3
18 Sodium hydrogen phosphate formula Na2HPO4
4
18 Sodium formate formula HCOONa
5
18 Phosphoric acid formula H3PO4
6
18 Phosphorus pentachloride formula PCl5
7
18 Phosphorus trichloride formula PCl3
8
18 Potassium acetate formula CH3CO2K
9
19 Potassium bicarbonate formula KHCO3
0
19 Potassium carbonate formula K2CO3
1
19 Potassium chlorate formula KClO3
2
19 Potassium hydrogen phosphate formula K2HPO4
3
19 Potassium chloride formula KCl
4
19 Potassium chromate formula CrK2O4
5
19 Potassium cyanide formula KCN
6
19 Potassium dichromate formula K2Cr2O7
7
19 Potassium fluoride formula KF
8
19 Potassium hydroxide formula KOH
9
20 Potassium hypochlorite formula KClO
0
20 Potassium iodide formula KI
1
20 Potassium dihydrogen phosphate formula KH2PO4
1
20 Potassium nitrate formula KNO3
3
20 Potassium nitrite formula KNO2
4
20 Potassium oxide formula K2O
5
20 Potassium iodate formula KIO3
6
20 Potassium phosphate formula KH2PO4
7
20 Potassium sulfite formula K2SO3
8
20 Salicylic acid formula C7H6O3
9
21 Silicon dioxide formula SiO2
0
21 Silver acetate formula AgC2H3O2
1
21 Silver carbonate formula Ag2CO3
2
21 Silver chloride formula AgCl
3
21 Silver nitrate formula AgNO3
4
21 Silver oxide formula Ag2O
5
21 Silver phosphate formula Ag3PO4
6
21 Sodium acetate formula C2H3NaO2
7
21 Sodium bicarbonate formula NaHCO3
8
21 Sodium bromide formula NaBr
9
22 Sodium thiosulfate formula Na2S2O3
0
22 Sodium carbonate formula Na2CO3
1
22 Sodium chloride formula NaCl
2
22 Sodium chromate formula Na2CrO4
3
22 Sodium citrate formula Na3C6H5O7
4
22 Sodium cyanide formula NaCN
5
22 Sodium dichromate formula Na2Cr2O7
6
22 Sodium fluoride formula NaF
7
22 Sodium hydroxide formula NaOH
8
22 Sodium hypochlorite formula NaClO
9
23 Sodium iodide formula NaI
0
23 Uric acid formula C5H4N4O3
1
23 Sodium nitrate formula NaNO3
2
23 Sodium nitride formula Na3N
3
23 Sodium nitrite formula NaNO2
4
23 Sodium oxide formula Na2O
5
23 Sodium peroxide formula Na2O2
6
23 Sodium phosphate formula Na3PO4
7
23 Sodium sulfate formula Na2SO4
8
23 Sodium sulfide formula Na2S
9
24 Sodium sulfite formula Na2SO3
0
24 Strontium chloride formula SrCl2
1
24 Strontium nitrate formula Sr(NO3)2
2
24 Sucrose formula C12H22O11
3
24 Sugar formula C12H22O11
4
24 Sulfate ion formula SO42−
5
24 Sulfur dioxide formula SO2
6
24 Sulfur trioxide formula SO3
7
24 Sulfuric acid formula H2SO4
8
24 Sulfurous acid formula H2SO3
9
25 Tartaric acid formula C4H6O6
0
25 Toluene formula C7H8
1
25 Urea formula CH4N2O
2
25 Vinegar formula C2H4O2
3
25 Zinc acetate formula Zn(O2CCH3)2
4
25 Zinc carbonate formula ZnCO3
5
25 Zinc chloride formula ZnCl2
6
25 Zinc hydroxide formula Zn(OH)2
7
25 Zinc iodide formula ZnI2
8
25 Zinc nitrate formula Zn(NO3)2
9
26 Zinc phosphate formula Zn3(PO4)2
0
26 Zinc sulfate formula ZnSO4
1
26 Zinc sulfide formula ZnS
2