Steps to chemistry
1. English Language
2. Element symbols
3. Differentiation among Elements and their physical state
4. Cation, Anions
5. Chemical formula by cress-cross method
6. Chemical name/common name and their colors
7. Equations
Basics Concepts of Chemistry - Periodic Table
Elements and their symbols:
Name Symbol Name Symbol Name Symbol Name Symbol
Hydrogen H Sodium Na Scandium Sc Lead Pb
Helium He Magnesium Mg Titanium Ti Gold Au
Lithium Li Aluminium Al Vanadium V Silver Ag
Beryllium Be Silicon Si Chromium Cr Platinum Pt
Boron B Phosphorous P Manganese Mn Tungsten W
Carbon C Sulphur S Iron Fe Radium Ra
Nitrogen N Chlorine Cl Cobalt Co Mercury Hg
Oxygen O Argon Ar Nickle Ni Gallium Ga
Fluorine F Potassium K Copper Cu Cesium Cs
Neon Ne Calcium Ca Zinc Zn Tin Sn
Krypton Kr Selenium Se Xenon Xe Bromine Br
Astatine At Tellurium Te Antimony Sb Germanium Ge
Polonium Po Arsenic As Iodine I Radon Rn
Uranium U Thorium Th
Metals (93) Non-Metals (11) Metalloids (Semi
metals) (8)
Noble elements
(6)
Fe, Cu, Al, Zn, Ag, C, S, P, H, O, N, F, Cl, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, B, Si, As, Ge, Sb,
Br, I, Se, Xe, Rn
Au, Pt, Cr, Na, K, Te, Po, At
Mg, Ni, Co, Sn, Pb,
W, U, etc.,
Solid All Metal are C, S, P, Se, I -------------- All are solids
Solids (Except:
Hg)
Liquid Hg (Cs-29oC, Ga- Br --------------- ----------------
30oC are liquids
slightly above room
temperature)
Gas -------------- H, O, F, Cl, N He, Ne, Ar, Kr, ------------------
Xe, Rn,
Elements with Latin names: For some element we follow Latin names while giving symbols.
Element Symbol Latin name Element Symbol Latin name
Sodium Na Natrium lead Pb Plumbum
Potassium K Kalium antimony Sb Stibium
Copper Cu Cuprum Mercury Hg Hydragyrum
Gold Au Aurum Tin Sn Stannum
Silver Ag Argentum Tungsten W Wolfram
Iron Fe Ferrum
Colors of compounds:
IRON COPPER COMPOUNDS LEAD CALCIUM
COMPOUNDS COMPOUNDS COMPOUNDS(White)
Fe-Gray Cu-Reddish brown Pb- Bluish gray Quick lime = Calcium Oxide =
CaO
Fe+2 =Light green CuSO4.5H2O = Blue PbI2=PbO=Yellow Slaked lime= Ca(OH)2 =
Cu(OH)2 = Blue Calcium Hydroxide
Fe(OH)2=
Cu(NO3)2 = Blue
FeSO4.7H2O=Light
green
Fe+3=Brown CuS = CuO = Pb(NO3)2 = PbCl2 Chalk Powder=Egg
shell=Marble=Lime
Fe(OH)3 = FeCl3= Black = PbSO4 =White stone=CaCO3 = Calcium
Fe2O3 = Brown Carbonate = Milky white
CuCl2.2H2O- Milk of lime=Lime water
Bluish green = Ca(OH)2+H2O
CuCl2-Yellowish brown
AgNO3 = AgCl =ZnSO4 = MgSO4 = White ; Al(OH)3-Gelatinous white
Gases Gases
Name Symbol Color Name Symbol Color
Oxygen gas O2 colorless Fluorine gas F2 Pale yellow
Hydrogen gas H2 colorless Nitrogen NO2 Brown
dioxide
Ammonia NH3 Pungent Sulphur SO2 Rotten egg
smell dioxide smell
Cabon dioxide CO2 colorless Sulphur SO3 Rotten egg
gas trioxide smell
Chlorine gas Cl2 Greenish
Yellow
Bromine gas Br2 Redish
Brown
Metals
Name Symbol Color Flame color
Potassium K Silvery white Purple
Sodium Na Silvery white Yellow
Calcium Ca Silvery white Brick red
Magnesium Mg white White
Aluminum Al Silvery white Silvery white
Zinc Zn Bluish white Blue green
Iron Fe gray Orange
brown
Lead Pb Bluish gray Blue-white
Copper Cu Reddish Greenish
brown blue
Mercury Hg Silvery white Red
Gold Au Yellow No
Characteristic
color
Platinum Pt Silvery white No
Characteristic
color
Cations: The species which losses electrons and possess Positive charge (+) (All metals are Cations)
Anions: The species which gains electrons and possess Negative charge (-)(Generally non- metals are
Anions)
CATIONS: Symbol ANIONS: Symbol
Unidentate ions: Unidentate ions:
-
Hydrogen ion H+ Chloride ion Cl
Sodium ion Na+ Bi Carbonate ion Or Hydrogen
carbonate ion HCO3-
Potassium ion +
Fluoride ion -
K F
Lithium ion Li+ Bromide ion Br-
Cuprous ion Cu+ Iodide ion -
I
Ammonium ion NH4+ Nitrate ion NO3-
Hydride ion -
Silver ion Ag+ H
Nitrite ion -
NO2
Bi dentate ions: Hydroxide ion OH-
2+
Beryllium ion Be Cyanide ion CN-
2+
Magnesium ion Mg Acetate ion CH3COO-
2+
Calcium ion Ca Formate ion HCOO-
2+
Barium ion Ba Bidentate ions:
2+ 2-
Ferrous ion Fe Sulphide ion S
2+ 2-
Cuperic ion Cu Oxide ion O
2+
Zinc ion Zn Carbonate ion CO3-2
2-
Strontium ion Sr+2 Sulphate ion SO4
Plumbous ion Pb+2 Zincate ion ZnO22-
2+ 2-
Manganous ion Mn Sulphite ion SO3
3+
Boron ion B Tridentate ions:
3+
Aluminum ion Al Nitride ion N-3
Ferric ion Fe +3 Phosphate ion PO4
3-
Tetradentate ion: Tetradentate ion:
Plumbic ion Pb+4 Carbide ion 4-
C
4+
Carbon ion C
4+
Manganese(IV) ion Mn
Elements table:
Element Symbol Z A n P.S N Ion V Electronic
Configuration
K L M N
Hydrogen H 1 1 0 G NM H+/H- 1 1
Helium He 2 4 2 G NB --- 0 2
Lithium Li 3 7 4 S M Li+ 1 2 1
Beryllium Be 4 9 5 S M Be+2 2 2 2
Boron B 5 11 6 S MT B+3 3 2 3
Carbon C 6 12 6 S NM C+4/C-4 4 2 4
Nitrogen N 7 14 7 G NM N-3 3 2 5
Oxygen O 8 16 8 G NM O-2 2 2 6
Fluorine F 9 19 10 G NM F-1 1 2 7
Neon Ne 10 20 10 G NB --- 0 2 8
Sodium Na 11 23 12 S M Na+ 1 2 8 1
Magnesium Mg 12 24 12 S M Mg+2 2 2 8 2
Aluminium Al 13 27 14 S M Al+3 3 2 8 3
Silicon Si 14 28 14 S MT Si+4 4 2 8 4
Phosphorous P 15 31 16 S NM P-3 3/5 2 8 5
Sulphur S 16 32 16 S NM S-2 2 2 8 6
Chlorine Cl 17 35.5 18 G NM Cl-1 1 2 8 7
Argon Ar 18 39.9 22 G NB --- 0 2 8 8
Potassium K 19 39 20 S M K+ 1 2 8 8 1
Calcium Ca 20 40 20 S M Ca+2 2 2 8 8 2
Z=Atomic number=No. of protons=No. of electrons, A=Mass number, n=no. ofNeutrons, V=Valency,
P.S= Physical State, N=Nature M-Metals, NM-Non-metal, NB-Noble element.
Acids: The substance which releases H+ ion in presence of water.
S.A=Strong Acid W.A=Weak acid
Formula Name Cation Anion
HNO3 Nitric acid(S.A) + -
H NO3
HCl Hydro Chloric acid(S.A) + Cl-
H
HBr Hydro bromic acid(S.A) + Br-
H
HI Hydro iodic acid(S.A)
H
+ I-
H2 SO4 Sulphuric acid(S.A) + SO4-2
H
HClO4 Per chloric acid(S.A) + -
H ClO4
H 2S Hydrogen sulphide acid(W.A) + S-2
H
HF Hydro Fluoric acid(W.A) + F-
H
H3PO4 Phosphoric acid(W.A) + PO4-3
H
HCN Hydrogen cyanide acid(W.A) + CN-
H
H2CO3 Hydrogen carbonate or Carbonic H+ CO3-2
acid(W.A)
Base: The substance which releases OH-ion in presence of water.
Formula Name Cation Anion
NaOH Sodium Hydroxide(S.B) Na+ OH-
LiOH Lithium Hydroxide(S.B) Li+ OH-
KOH PotassiumHydroxide(S.B) K+ OH-
Ca(OH)2 Calcium Hydroxide(S.B) Ca+2 OH-
Mg(OH)2 MagnesiumHydroxide(S.B) Mg+2 OH-
Sr(OH)2 Strontium Hydroxide(S.B) Sr+2 OH-
Na2O Sodium oxide(S.B) Na+ O-2
K 2O Potassium oxide(S.B) K+ O-2
CuO Copper oxide(S.B) Cu+2 O-2
Li +
Li2O Lithium Oxide(S.B) O-2
MgO Magnesium Oxide(S.B) Mg+2 O-2
CaO Calcium oxide(S.B) Ca+2 O-2
Fe(OH)2 Ferrous Hydroxide(W.B) Fe+2 OH-
Ba(OH)2 Barium Hydroxide(W.B) Ba+2 OH-
NH4OH Ammonium Hydroxide(W.B) NH4+ OH-
S.B=Strong Base….W.B=Weak base
Salts: The substance which on addition to water that gives cation and anion other than
H+ and OH- is said to be salt.
Ex: NaCl, MgCl2, MgSO4 etc.,
Names of some compounds and its Cations and Anions:
Formula Name Cation Anion
Al2(SO4)3 Aluminium sulfate Al+3 SO4-2
Al2O3 Aluminium oxide Al+3 O-2
NH4Cl Ammonium chloride NH4+ Cl-
(NH4)2SO4 Ammonium sulfate NH4+ SO42-
BaCl2 Barium chloride Ba+2 Cl-
BaSO4 Barium sulphate Ba+2 SO4-2
CuS Cupric sulphide Cu+2 S-2
CuO Copper Oxide Cu+2 O-2
Cu(OH)2 Cupric hydroxide Cu+2 OH-
CuCl2 Cupric chloride Cu+2 Cl-
CuSO4 Cupric sulphate Cu+2 SO4-2
Cu(NO3)2 Cupric nitrate Cu+2 NO3-1
CaCO3 Calcium carbonate Ca+2 CO3-2
Ca(HCO3)2 Calcium bicarbonate Ca+2 Cl-
CaSO4 Calcium sulfate Ca+2 SO4-2
Fe3O4 Ferrous Ferric Oxide Fe+3, Fe+2 O-2
FeSO4 Ferrous sulfate Fe+2 SO4-2
Fe2O3 Ferric oxide Fe+3 O-2
FeCl3 Ferric chloride Fe+3 Cl-
KClO3 Potassium chlorate K+ ClO3-
KBr Potassium bromide K+ Br-
KCl Potassium chloride K+ Cl-
KI Potassium iodide K+ I-
KNO3 Potassium nitrate K+ NO3-1
K2SO4 Potassium sulfate K+ SO4-2
KF Potassium fluoride K+ F-
Pb(NO3)2 Lead nitrate Pb+2 NO3-1
PbO Lead oxide Pb+2 O-2
PbI2 Lead iodide Pb+2 I-
PbCl2 Lead iodide Pb+2 Cl--
NaNO3 Sodium nitrate Na+ NO3-1
NaCl Sodium Chloride Na+ Cl--
NaHCO3 Sodium bicarbonate Na+ HCO3-
(Baking soda)
Na2CO3 Sodium carbonate Na+ CO3-2
Na2SO4 Sodium sulfate Na+1 SO4-2
Na2ZnO2 Sodium zincate Na+ ZnO2-2
AgNO3 Silver nitrate Ag+ NO3-1
AgCl Silver Chloride Ag+ Cl--
AgBr Silver Bromide Ag+ Br--
ZnSO4 Zinc sulfate Zn+2 SO4-2
ZnCO3 Zinc carbonate Zn+2 CO3-2
ZnS Zinc sulphide Zn+2 S-2
ZnCl2 Zinc chloride Zn+2 Cl-
MnO2 Manganese dioxide Mn+4 O-2
MnCl2 Manganous Chloride Mn+2 Cl-
MgO Magnesium Oxide Mg+2 O-2
MgSO4 Magnesium sulphate Mg+2 SO4-2
ZnO Zinc Oxide Zn+2 O-2
Names of some common compounds:
Formula Common name Chemical name
CaOCl2 Bleaching powder Calcium Oxy
Chloride
CaSO4.2H2O Gypsum Calcium sulphate
dihydrate
CaSO4.1/2H2O Plaster of Paris Calcium sulphate
hemihydrate
Na2CO3 Soda ash Sodium Carbonate
Na2CO3 .10H2O Washing soda Sodium Carbonate
Deca Hydrate
NaHCO3 Baking soda Sodium Bi
Carbonate
NaHCO3 +Tartaric acid Baking powder
CaCO3 Limestone/Chalk powder/ Calcium Carbonate
Egg shell/Marble
CaO Quicklime Calcium Oxide
Ca(OH)2 Slaked lime Calcium Hydroxide
Ca(OH)2+ H2O Lime water Calcium
Hydroxide+Water
NaCl Rock salt/Common salt Sodium chloride
NaOH Caustic soda Sodium Hydroxide
KOH Caustic potash Potassium
Hydroxide
Mg(OH)2 Milk of Magnesia Magnesium
Hydroxide
MgSO4.7H2O Epsom salt Magnesium
Sulphate Hepta
hydrate
H2CO3 Carbonic acid Hydrogen
Carbonate
NaCl+H2O Brine solution Sodium
chloride+water
C Graphite/Diamond Carbon
H2O2 Oxydol, Peroxide Hydrogen Peroxide
SiO2 Sand Silicon dioxide
CuSO4.5H2O Blue vitrol Copper Sulphate
Penta hydrate
NaOCl Antiformin/Bleach/Chloride of Calcium Oxy
soda Chloride
Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O Borax
CO2 Dry ice Carbon dioxide
FeSO4.7H2O Green vitrol(Glass like Ferrous Sulphate
appearance) Hepta hydrate
N2O Laughing gas Nitrous Oxide
Organic compounds:
CH3OH Methyl alcohol Methanol
CH4 Marsh gas Methane
C6H12O6 Dextrose Glucose
C2H5OH Alcohol Ethanol
