Question:
How to find the molecular formula from words?
REX
2009-08-21 16:31:47 UTC
Can anyone tell me how to find the molecular formula of a compound from words? Suppose I have a question like this,
Find the molecular formula for tin(IV) sulfide?
Can someone please explain how to solve this? [Please just don't give me the answer, please include an explanation.]
Four answers:
The Answerer
2009-08-21 16:42:02 UTC
Firstly, look at the two compounds.



Tin is a metal. Sulfur is a non-metal. When a metal and non-metal join it is an ionic bond.



This also means you can deduct the chemical formula using this information.



Secondly, you need to find the valence number of each element as to find what ion the atom will form (how many electrons in its valence shell will it lose or gain).



For Tin, it is already given, as 4. This means Tin has 4 outer electrons, generally metals form postive ions so Tin will lose these negative electrons, it will then become and ion with a charge of 4+, Sn 4+.



Sulfur, looking at the periodic table, is in group 16, or (6A), meaning it will have 6 outer shell electrons. It will gain 2, as it easier to gain 2 than to lose 6. So it forms a negative ion or anion of S 2-.



To balance the charges when these two substances mix, you need two sulfur ions to balance the charge of the tin ion, because the tin has twice the opposing charge. You can simply swap the charges over and make this the amount of ions, then simplfy the numbers down.



So you end up with SnS2.
dech
2016-09-29 13:53:08 UTC
Tin Iv Sulfide Formula
HPV
2009-08-21 16:39:58 UTC
Tin(IV) sulfide



The Roman numeral IV tells you that the charge on Sn is +4.

Sulfide has a -2 charge.



In an ionic compound, the + charges and the - charges must balance. To balance Sn^4+, you need TWO S^2-. The formula is SnS2.
Sheree
2015-08-06 00:49:31 UTC
This Site Might Help You.



RE:

How to find the molecular formula from words?

Can anyone tell me how to find the molecular formula of a compound from words? Suppose I have a question like this,

Find the molecular formula for tin(IV) sulfide?

Can someone please explain how to solve this? [Please just don't give me the answer, please include an explanation.]


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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