FORMULA WRITING FLOW CHART
ACIDS
IONIC COMPOUNDS
COVALENT COMPOUNDS
Does the name contain the word acid?
Yes
No
It is an Acid
Does the name begin with a metal or NH4?
Yes
No
Does the name have any Greek prefixes in it?
Yes
No
Start over
It is an Ionic Compound.
It is a Covalent Compound.
Does the name begin with the prefix Hydro?
Yes
The 1st element is H,
the 2nd element
comes from the root
before the –ic suffix.
Balance the number
of hydrogens with the
charge of the
negative ion.
Is the 2nd part of the name a
non-metal or a polyatomic ion
No
The 1st element is H,
the 2nd part is a
polyatomic ion.
-ic acid = -ate ion,
-ous acid = -ite ion.
Balance the number
of hydrogens with
the charge of the
polyatomic ion.
Write the symbol
for the metal, or NH4
& the non-metal using
subscripts to balance
the charges of the ions.
(cross-over move)
Write the symbol
for the metal, or
NH4 & the
polyatomic
ion using
subscripts to
balance the
charges of the
ions.
(cross-over move)
Use parenthesis
around the
polyatomic ion
if needed.
Write the symbol for the 1st element using a
subscript that corresponds to its prefix (do not
cross over the subscripts!) Write the symbol
for the 2nd element using a subscript that
corresponds to its prefix.