Writing Balanced Chemical formulas

IONIC COMPOUNDS Are the trickiest

Step 1: Determine what bond you have/ what are the parts of your compound Strontium Phophate Strontium Phosphate Metal Non-Metal IONIC Compound

Step 2: Determine the charge of each part of your compound Strontium Phosphate 2+ 3- HINT: if there are roman numerals… it is telling you the charge I= 1 II= 2 III=3 IV=4 V=5

Step 3: What is the smallest value both numbers can go into (smarties call this Least Common Multiple :0) Strontium Phosphate 2+ 3- Typically this value will be the product of your two charges 2 X 3 = 6

Step 4: how many of each would you need to get that value? Strontium Phosphate 2+ 3- 2 X ?= 6 3 X ?= 6 2 X 3= 6 3 X 2= 6 Need 3 Need 2 Sr Phosphate

Step 5: Write it out Strontium Phophate 3 2

Step 6: Double check 2 Phosphate 3 Strontium Each is 3- Charge Total 6- Charge 3 Strontium Each is 2+ charge Total 6+ Charge 6+ cancels out 6- and we have a neutral/ stable molecule

Covalent COMPOUNDS Are easy peasy

Step 1: Figure out the prefix… and USE IT!!!! WORD! Drop the mic