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Chemical Reactions

Writing formulae of elements and compounds

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 3

Overview

Which elements exist as molecules of two atoms and why neon does not, the formulae of water, methane, carbon dioxide, magnesium oxide and carbon monoxide, what NaCl represents, how a symbol differs from a formula, working out a formula from ion charges, the formulae of common acids, sodium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and ammonia, and half equations for aluminium and bromine.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which elements exist as molecules of two joined atoms, and how are their formulae written?

Key term

Why is the formula of neon written as Ne and not Ne₂?

Key term

What is the formula of water, and how many atoms of each element does one molecule contain?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which elements exist as molecules of two joined atoms, and how are their formulae written?

    Model answer

    Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, written H₂, N₂, O₂, F₂, Cl₂, Br₂ and I₂.

  2. 2

    Why is the formula of neon written as Ne and not Ne₂?

    Model answer

    Neon atoms already have a full outer shell, so they do not bond to one another and exist as separate atoms.

  3. 3

    What is the formula of water, and how many atoms of each element does one molecule contain?

    Model answer

    H₂O, containing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

  4. 4

    Give the formula of methane and state how many covalent bonds the carbon atom forms.

    Model answer

    CH₄, with the carbon atom forming four covalent bonds.

  5. 5

    What is the formula of carbon dioxide, and what does the subscript tell you?

    Model answer

    CO₂, where the subscript 2 shows that each molecule contains two oxygen atoms.

  6. 6

    Sodium chloride is written NaCl even though it has no molecules. What does this formula represent?

    Model answer

    The simplest whole-number ratio of the ions in the giant lattice, one sodium ion to one chloride ion.

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Values 7.
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AThe products sit at a higher energy level than the reactants.
BThe activation energy, the energy that must be supplied before the reaction can happen.
CThe reactants, the products, the activation energy and the overall energy change.

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Sodium ions give a bright yellow flame colour.
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