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Revise: Chemical formulaeFormulae of compounds containing group ions

The chemical formula for a substance shows how many atoms of each element are present in a molecule, or the proportion of atoms of each element. The formula can be worked out using the valency.

Part ofChemistryRevision guides: Chemical changes and structures

Formulae of compounds containing group ions

Group ions contain two or more atoms and usually have a negative charge. The formulae of these ions can be found in the data booklet. We can take the number of charges on the ion as the valency of the ion.

Example

What is the formula for calcium nitrate?

Calcium (Ca) has a valency of 2. The nitrate ion (NO3) has a valency of 1. The formula is Ca(NO3)2.