NAME.....................................

USEFUL VALENCIES, IONS AND FORMULAE FOR GCSE

METALS

Li
Na
K
Cu
Ag
H
NH4

ION = +1
VALENCY OF 1
lithium
sodium
potassium
copper (I)
silver
hydrogen *
ammonium *

Mg
Ca
Ba
Fe
Ni
Cu
Zn
Pb

ION = +2
VALENCY OF 2
magnesium
calcium
barium
iron (II)
nickel
copper (II)
zinc
lead (II)

Al
Fe

ION = +3
VALENCY OF 3
aluminium
iron (III)

* these ions are not actually of metals but behave as such by forming
positive ions
NON - METALS

F
Cl
Br
I
OH
NO3
HCO3
HSO4

ION = -1
VALENCY OF 1
fluoride
chloride
bromide
iodide
hydroxide
nitrate

O
S
SO4
CO3

ION = -2
VALENCY OF 2
oxide
sulphide
sulphate
carbonate

hydrogencarbon
ate

hydrogensulph
ate

N
PO4

ION = -3
VALENCY OF 3
nitride
phosphate

C
Si

VALENCY OF 4
carbon
silicon
These do not form ions

OTHER FORMULAE
The formulae of ionic compounds (compounds formed between metals and nonmetals) is given by balancing the relative numbers of positive and negative ions
needed to achieve a neutral compound.
The formulae of acids and of more covalent molecules is not easy to predict using
valencies. The following should be learnt as a matter of course.
Common Gases
hydrogen
H2
oxygen
O2
nitrogen
N2
chlorine
Cl2
carbon dioxide
CO2
SO2
CH4

sulphur
dioxide
methane

Common Acids
HCl
hydrochloric
nitric
HNO3
sulphuric
H2SO4
phosphoric
H3PO4
HCOOH
methanoic
(weak)
CH3COO ethanoic
(weak)
H
carbonic
H2CO3

H2 O
NH3
F2
Br2
I2

Other
water (l)
ammonia (g)
fluorine (g)
bromine (l)
iodine (s)

CO

carbon monoxide
(g)

C2 H 4

ethene (g)

(weak)

NAME.....................................

REACTIVITY SERIES OF SOME METALS

K > Na > Li > Ca > Mg > Al > [C] > Zn > Fe > Pb > [H] > Cu > Ag > Au