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The Language of Chemistry Using chemical formulae continued
We can use the chemical symbols to construct chemical formulae for the molecules and compounds we have met in the tutorials.
| Image |
Formula |
Notes |
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Na2SO4 |
Sodium sulphate : The subscript 2 indicates that two sodium atoms are needed to combine with one sulphate radical. |
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Ca(NO3)2 |
Calcium nitrate : Notice that the nitrate radical has the formula NO3. When more than one is present in a compound the NO3 is placed in brackets () and the subscript number after the second bracket indicates the number of nitrate radicals present. |
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HCl |
Either hydrogen chloride gas or hydrochloric acid if it is in solution (dissolved in water). |
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HNO3 |
Nitric acid : The correct name would be hydrogen nitrate but the old name has stuck! |
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H2SO4 |
Sulphuric acid : The correct name would be hydrogen sulphate but, again, the old name is too well known and is more commonly used. |
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