Topic : Valency
The Octet rule states that “Atoms are most stable when they have completely filled octet i.e. 8
electrons in the outermost shell.”
A configuration that has eight electrons in the valence shell is also referred to as to “ Nobel gas
configuration”
Atoms try to attain the nearest Nobel gas configuration either by gaining , losing or sharing of
electrons .
Valency of an element can be defined as the combining capacity of one element with another element.
In other words , it can also be defined as the number of electrons gained , lost or shared to attain noble
gas configuration i.e. a completely filled octet.
Topic : Shortcut to calculate Valency
When the number of valence electrons is less than or equal to 4 ,
then ,
Valency = No. of valence electrons
For ex. The atomic number of Sodium = 11
Electronic configuration = 2, 8, 1
Since, the number of valence electrons < 4
Valency of Sodium = No. of Valence electrons = 1
Topic : Shortcut to calculate Valency
When the number of valence electrons is greater than or equal to 4 ,
then ,
Valency = 8 – No. of valence electrons
For ex. The atomic number of Chlorine = 17
Electronic configuration = 2, 8, 7
Since, the number of valence electrons > 4
Valency of Chlorine = 8 - No. of Valence electrons i.e. 8 - 7 = 1
Topic : Some common ions
Name of ion Symbol (or Name of ion Symbol (or
Formula) Formula)
1. Sodium ion Na+ 10. Chloride ion Cl–
2. Potassium ion K+ 11. Bromide ion Br–
3. Ammonium ion NH4+ 12. Hydroxide ion OH–
4. Magnesium Mg2+ 13. Nitrate ion NO3–
5. Calcium ion Ca2+ 14. Oxide ion O2–
6. Copper (II) ion Cu2+ 15. Sulphide ion S2–
7. Zinc ion Zn2+ 16. Cabonate ion CO32–
8. Iron (II) ion Fe2+ 17. Sulphate ion SO42–
9. Aluminium ion Al3+ 18. Phosphate ion PO43–
Topic : Atoms and their Symbols
Name of Element Symbols Atomic Number Number Number Distributio Val
Number of Protons of of n of e-n
Neutrons Electrons Electrons cy
K L M N
Hydrogen H 1 1 - 1 1 - - - 1
Helium He 2 2 2 2 2 - - - 0
Lithium Li 3 3 4 3 2 1 - - 1
Beryllium Be 4 4 5 4 2 2 - - 2
Boron B 5 5 6 5 2 4 - - 3
Carbon C 6 6 6 6 2 5 - - 4
Nitrogen N 7 7 7 7 2 6 - - 3
Oxygen O 8 8 8 8 2 7 - - 2
Fluorine F 9 9 10 9 2 8 - - 1
Neon Ne 10 10 10 10 2 8 - - 0
Sodium Na 11 11 12 11 2 8 1 - 1
Magnesium Mg 12 12 12 12 2 8 2 - 2
Aluminum Al 13 13 14 13 2 8 3 - 3
Silicon Si 14 14 14 14 2 8 4 - 4
Phosphorus P 15 15 16 15 2 8 5 - 3.5
Sulphur S 16 16 16 16 2 8 6 - 2
Chlorine Cl 17 17 18 17 2 8 7 - 1
Argon Ar 18 18 22 18 2 8 8 - 0
Potassium K 19 19 20 19 2 8 8 1 4
Calcium Ca 20 20 20 20 2 8 8 2 2
Topic : Valency
Valency of an Ion
Table I : Some common cations (positive ions)
Monovalent cations Divalent cations (Valency = 2) Trivalent cations (Valency = 3)
(Valency = 1)
Name Symbol Name Symbol Name Symbol
Hydrogen H+ Magnesium Mg2+ Aluminium Al3+
Sodium Na+ Calcium Ca2+ Chromium Cr3+
Potassium K+ Barium Ba2+ Iron (III) Fe3+
Silver Ag+ Copper (II) Cu2+ Gold (III) Au3+
Copper (I) Cu+ Iron (II) Fe2+
Gold (I) Au+ Zinc Zn2+
Ammonium Cobalt Co2+
Topic : Valency
Valency of an Ion
Table II : Some common cations (negative ions)
Monovalent anions Divalent anion(Valency = 2) Trivalent anions (Valency = 3)
(Valency = 1)
Name Symbol Name Symbol Name Symbol
Hydride H– Carbonate Phosphate
Hydroxide OH– Sulphite Borate
Chloride Br– Sulphate Arsenate
Iodide I– Oxide O2– Nitride N3–
Nitrite Manganate
Nitrite Oxalate
Topic : Chemical Formula
A chemical formula represents the composition of a molecule of the substance in terms of symbols
of the elements present in the molecule.
Molecular formula : It represents the actual number of atoms of various elements present in one
molecule of the compound.
Significance of Molecular Formula of a substance :
The molecular formula of a substance gives the following information:
(i) It tells the name of the substance.
(ii) It tells about the names of different elements present in the substance.
(iii) It represents substance. one molecule of the
(iv) It tells about the number of atoms of each element present in its one molecule, i.e., atomicity.