{o) Formula of sodium nitrate: symbol/ Formula Na. Charge 1¢7 “1. Formula : NaNO, (d) Formula of calcium hydroxide: Symbol/ Formula a charge 2471. Formula : Ca(OH), Note that the formula of calcium hydroxide is Ca(OH), and not CaOH,. We us brackets when we have two or more of the same ions in the formula. Here, the bracket around OH with a subscript 2 indicates that there are two hydroxyl (OH) groups joined to one calcium atom. In other words, there are two atoms each of oxygen and hydrogen in calcium hydroxide. (e) Formula of sodium carbonate: Symbol/ yc, Formula x ss Charge 1+” ‘2- Formula : Na,CO, In the above example, brackets are not needed if there is only one ion present. (9 Formula of ammonium sulphate: Formula NH, SO, Charge 147 So Formula : (NH),S0, uestions 1. Write down the formulae of @ Sodium oxide (@i) aluminium chloride (i) sodium sulphide (iv) magnesium hydroxide 2. Write down the names of compounds represented by the following formulae: @ Al{SO,, (i) CaCl, ta) K,SO, Gv) KNO, () CaCO, 3. What is meant by the term chemical formula? 4, How many atoms are present ina (@ H,Smolecule and (i) PO? ion? 3.5 Molecular Mass In section 3.2.2 we discussed the concept of atomic mass. This concept can be extended to calculate molecular masses. The molecular mass of a substance is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule of the substance. It is therefore the relative mass of amolecule expressed in atomic mass units (t). Example 3.1 (a) Calculate the relative molecular mass of water (H,O) (b) Calculate the molecular mass of HNO, oxygen So the molecular mass of water, which contains two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen is 2x 1+ dé 18u (b] The molecular mass of HNO, = the atomic mass of H + the atomic mass of N+ 3x the atomic mass of O + 14448 =63u 3.5.1 FORMULA UNIT MASS ‘The formula unit mass of a substance is a sum of the atornic masses of all atoms in a formula unit of a compound. Formula unit mass is calculated in the same manner as we calculate the molecular mass. The only difference is that Reprint 2025-26we use the word formula unit for those uestions substances whose constituent particles are ions. For example, sodium chloride as 1. Calculate the molecular masses discussed above, has a formula unit NaCl. Its of Hy, Oy Cly CO, CH, CHy formula unit mass can be calculated as— C,H, NH, CH,OH. 1x28 +1% 35.5 = 58.5u 2. Calculate the formula unit masses of ZO, Na,O, K,CO,, given atomic masses of Zn = 65 u, Example 3.2 Calculate the formula unit mass of CaCl, Solution: Atomic mass of Ca + (2 x atomic mass of Cl) =40+2%35,5=40+71=111u you have learnt * During a chemical reaction, the sum of the masses of the reactants and’ products remains unchanged. This is known. as the Law of Conservation of Mass. * Ina pure chemical compound, elements are always present in a definite proportion by mass. This is known as the Law of Definite Proportions. * An atom is the smallest particle of the element that cannot usually exist independently and retain all its chemical properties. *\ A molecule is the smallest particle of an element or a ‘compound capable of independent existence under ordinary conditions, It shows all the properties of the substance. * A chemical formula of a compound shows its constituent elements and the number of atoms of each combining element. © “Clusters of atoms that act as an ion are called polyatomic ions. They carry a fixed charge on them. © The chemical formula of a molecular compound is determined by the valency of * In ionic compounds, the charge on each ion is used to determine the chemical formula of the compound. Arous axo Moteconss 35 Reprint 2025-26MOM Exercises 1 A 0.24 g sample of compound of oxygen and boron was found by analysis to contain 0.096 g of boron and 0.144 g of oxygen. Calculate the percentage composition of the compound by weight. 2. When 3.0 g of carbon is burnt in 8,00 g oxygen, 11.00 g of carbon dioxide is produced. What mass of carbon dioxide will be formed when 3.00 g of carbon is burnt in 50.00 g of ‘oxygen? Which law of ch answer? al combination will govern your 3. What are polyatomic ions? Give examples. 4. Write the chemical formulae of the following. {a]_ Magnesium chloride (b} Calcium oxide {c]_ Copper nitrate {d} Aluminium chloride (e} Calcium carbonate. 5. Give the names of the elements present in the following compounds. {a} Quick lime (b} Hydrogen bromide {c] Baking powder {d} Potassium sulphate. 6. Calculate the molar mass of the following substances. (a) Ethyne, C,H, (b} Sulphur molecule, S, {c) Phosphorus molecu = 31) {a} Hydrochloric acid, HCl {e]_ Nitric acid, HNO, P, (Atomic mass of phosphorus MEE «~Group Activity Play a game for writing formulae. Examplel : Make placards with symbols and valencies of the elements separately. Each student should hold two placards, one with the symbol in the right hand and the other with the valency in the left hand. Keeping the symbols in place, students should criss-cross their valencies to form the formula of a compound. 36 Scrence Reprint 2025-26rows av Movecuiss Example 2 : A low cost model for writing formulae: Take empty blister packs of medicines. Cut them in groups. according to the valency of the element, as shown in the figure. Now, you can make formulae by fixing one type of ion into other. For example: Nat so,? PO, Ste PLP )0~—F Lr it l_ Formula for sodium sulphate: 2 sodium ions can be fixed on one sulphate ion, Hence, the formula will be: Na,SO, Do it yourself : Now, write the formula of sodium phosphate, 37 Reprint 2025-26