Writing Chemical Formulae

Here is an activity which is both visual and kinaesthetic (involves movement of your hand and finger muscles) that can be used to help you learn to write, or practice writing chemical formulae. A series of cards representing common anions and cations are used. Each card has both the symbol and name of the ion written on them. For e ample, you may be given some cards and asked to write the formula for sodium chloride

!his re"uires one sodium ion (card) and one chloride ion (card), therefore the formula for sodium chloride is written #a$l. %imilarly for sodium sulphate

!his re"uires two sodium ions (cards) and one sulphate ion (card), therefore the formula for sodium sulphate can be written #a&%'(. %ome common anions and cations are represented on the following pages. )ou are re"uired to print them out, colour them, paste them to cardboards and cut the shapes to make them ready for use.

Here are some suggested colours for the sake of uniformity .

$ation *i+ #a+ /+ #H(+ H+ $olour $ation ,b&+ $u&+ 0g&+ 1a&+ Fe&+ $olour Anion F$l1r2H$olour Anion %'(&%'.&'&$'.&,'(.$olour

Ag+ $a&+ 3n&+

Fe.+ Al.+

'H#'.#'&-

%&-

Card One

Card Two

Card Three

Card Four