Write the number of each atom in the chemical formulas for all of the possible combinations of positive and negative ions found
on the cards. You can use the cards to figure out the formula by making as many copies of the cards as necessary to get them to line up exactly equally. Example:
Na__Cl___
The chemical formula is NaCl, so you would place a 1 in the box for both Na and Cl.
A chemical formula is obtained from the number of atoms in a compound.
Chemical compounds are composed of atoms. The number atoms of each element in a compound determines the correct formula of the compound. Before I can write the chemical formula of any compound, I must first determine the number of each atom in the compound.
For instance, phosphorus trichloride contains one atom of phosphorus and three atoms of chlorine hence I would place a 1 in the box for P and 3 in the box for Cl.
