Department of Education

National Capital Region

S CHOOLS DIVIS ION OFFICE
MARIK INA CITY

General Chemistry 1
First Quarter-Module 4:
Chemical and Structural Formulas

Writer: Coleen Michelle L. Magalong

Illustrator: Christine Ann G. Faraon
Cover Illustrator: Christine Ann G. Faraon

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the concepts and ideas in Chemistry. The scope of this module permits it to
be used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course.

After going through this Lesson, you are expected to

1. define compound, chemical formula, valence electron and lone pair;
2. describe the three types of chemical formulas;
3. explain the differences between ionic and covalent compounds and between
empirical and molecular formula;
4. identify a single, a double and a triple covalent bond;
5. show the composition of molecules using molecular formulas and empirical
formulas;
6. represent bonding arrangement of atoms within molecules using structural
formulas; and
7. represent compounds using chemical formulas, structural formulas, and
models (STEM_GC11AMIc-e-21).

What I Know

Read each questions carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer then write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is the name of number in a chemical formula that tells how many atoms
are in a molecule?
A. Coefficients
B. Subscripts
C. Mass number
D. Atomic number

2. What will form when two or more atoms share one or more pairs of electrons?
A. Compound
B. Ionic compound
C. Chemical formula
D. Covalent compound

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 3. What is the set of symbols that shows the elements and the ratio of atoms
found in a substance?
A. Ionic compound
B. Chemical formula
C. Structural formula
D. Covalent compound

4. What will form when a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion
bond together?
A. Ionic compound
B. Binary compound
C. Ternary compound
D. Covalent compound

5. What is the substance that is composed of two or more different elements

joined by a chemical bond?
A. Compound
B. Ionic bond
C. Chemical bond
D. Covalent bond

6. What is a charged atom called?

A. Element
B. Ion
C. Isotopes
D. Molecule

7. What is the formula that gives the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a
compound?
A. Chemical Formula
B. Empirical Formula
C. Molecular Formula
D. Structural Formula

8. Which of the following best describe valence electrons?

A. It is often called backscattered electrons.
B. The electrons found near the center of the nucleus.
C. These are the electron that are found in the outermost shell of an
atom.
D. The electrons of atoms that participate in the formation of chemical
bonds.

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9. Which of the following statement is FALSE?
A. Chemical formula tells us the number of molecules in a compound.
B. Empirical formula tells us the exact number of atoms in a
compound.
C. Molecular formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a
compound.
D. Structural formula shows the arrangement and bonds of atoms
within the molecule.

10. What is the formula that gives the actual number of atoms of each element in
a compound?
A. Chemical formula
B. Empirical formula
C. Molecular formula
D. Structural formula

11. The formula NaCl is an example of a/an __________________formula.

A. empirical
B. molecular
C. structural
D. both A and B is correct

12. Which of the following is the correct structural formula of CO2?

13. The chemical formula of glucose (C6H12O6) is an example of a/an

__________________formula.

A. empirical
B. molecular
C. structural
D. both A and B is correct

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 14. The correct name of this formula, , is _______________.
A. oxygen hydride
B. hydrogen oxide
C. dihydrogen oxide
D. none of the above

15. Which of the following best represents the bond between magnesium and
oxygen?

Chemical and Structural

Lesson
Formulas

What’s In

Compounds are substances that are composed of two or more different

elements joined by chemical bonds. Two major types of compounds are ionic and
covalent compounds. Ionic compound is a compound that is form when a positively
charged ion and a negatively charged ion undergoes chemical bonding. Covalent
compound is a compound form when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

Chemical formula represents the chemical composition of a compound, it uses

symbols of elements and numeric subscripts that tells the number of atoms found
in a compound. There 3 types of chemical formula; empirical, molecular, and
structural formula.

Empirical formula shows the least whole number ratio of the atom present in
a molecule, while molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms of elements
present in one molecule of the compound.

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Table 1. Common Compounds with different Empirical and Molecular Formula
Compound Empirical Formula Molecular Formula
Glucose CH2O C6H12O6
dichlorine hexoxide ClO3 Cl2O6
hydrogem peroxide HO H2O2

Base from the table above glucose have an empirical formula of CH2O this
means that the ratio of elements C, H, and O in glucose is 1:2:1, but the actual
number of atoms in glucose is 6:12:6 as shown in the molecular formula.

Look at the table below notice that there are some compounds that have the
same molecular formula and empirical formula, which means both formulas are
already in its lowest ratio.

Table 2. Common Compounds with the same Empirical and Molecular Formula.
Compound Empirical Formula Molecular Formula
Water H2O H2O
carbon monoxide CO CO
Ethanol C2H6O C2H6O

Structural formula identifies the location of chemical bonds between the

atoms of a molecule. In this chemical formula, the actual bonds between molecules
are shown.

What’s New

To be able to correctly write chemical and structural formulas, you must be

able to first identify its parts. Each part of the formula will also tell you information
about the atoms or molecules in a compound.

Activity 1. Parts of a formula and its function

Answer what is ask in the following numbers. Write your answer on a separate sheet
of paper.

1. Label and identify the function of each part in the following formula given
below.

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 7. Two nitrogen atoms usually form a triple bond ( ). Following the octet
rule, how many lone pair is in a N 2 compound?
_______________________________________________________________________

8. Illustrate the bond between two C atoms and a few H atoms, then answer the
following questions.

a. How many electrons does carbon need to complete its outermost shell?
b. How many bonds does carbon make?
c. How many atoms does hydrogen need to complete its outermost shell?
d. How many bonds does hydrogen make?
e. How many hydrogens should you use to complete the chemical
formula?

What Is It

Structural Formula helps us understand how atoms in a molecule are

connected and how this molecule functions in space. There are several ways how
structural formula is represented, but the most common are the following.

I. Electron dot method

This method uses dots to show bonds between atoms. Each pair of dots
represents a pair of electrons, shared between the two atoms.
Example: H2O
H2O2

II. Bond-line formula

In this method instead of using dots it uses lines to represent an

electron pair shared between atoms.
Example: H2O
H2O2

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III. 3D constructional models

Ball-and-stick model is a three-dimensional model that uses spheres to

represent the atoms and rods to represent the bonds. This model shows the angles
between bonds and how the atoms are connected and arranged in space.

H2O H2O2

Figure 1 Ball-and-stick model of water and hydrogen peroxide

Space-filled model is often used in computer simulations. This model shows

the overlap of the electron shells of the atoms.
H2O H2O2

Figure 2. Space – filled model of water and hydrogen peroxide

How to Write Structural Formulas

A. Electron dot method

This method in writing structural formula uses Lewis dot structure to

show the formula of a chemical compound. Lewis dot structure uses symbols
of elements and dots to represent its valence electrons. Valence electrons are
electrons of an atom that takes part in chemical bonding.

Example: Draw the electron dot structural formula of CO 2

1. Identify the elements involved in the chemical bonding.

Carbon (C) and oxygen (O)

2. Identify the number of valences of each element; this number will indicate the
number of dots you will draw around each atom. To find the valence electron
you may use your periodic table of elements.
C = 4 e- O = 6 e-
C = 4 dots O = 6 dots

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 3. Write symbols of the elements and draw the dots around each element.

4. Identify the number of bonds or pairs of electrons needed to complete 8

electrons (octet rule) around each atom.
• Add all the valences of the elements 16
• Identify the number of missing electrons 8
• Identify the number of bonds 16- 8 / 2 = 4 bonds
Exceptions to the Octet Rule. Most elements below atomic number 20
follow the octet rule, but there are several exceptions. One example of this is
hydrogen which only needs a total of two electrons to complete its outer shell
of two electrons.

5. Write the structural formula. Arrange the elements so that all unpaired
electrons are written at the center of the formula. The element with the least
electronegativity/ valence is usually written at the center of the formula.

Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract or bond with another

atom. To check this, you may use a periodic table of elements with their
electronegativity values.

6. Share/ pair electrons.

There are valence electrons that are not paired or shared with an
electron of another atom, these electrons are called lone pair.

B. Bond-line formula

The steps in writing the bond- line formula of a compound are almost
the same as the electron dot method discussed above, except that these use
lines instead of dots to represent the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Example: Draw the bond- line formula of CO2.

1. Follow steps 1- 5 above.

2. Share/ pair electrons. Draw a line that will connect the shared electrons.

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 There are 3 types of bond – line formula in covalent compounds.
Remember that atoms combine to become stable. To attain this stability, they
must share a required number of electrons. Sharing of one or multiple
electrons between atoms will form a single bond, double bond, or triple bond.

1. Single Bond - two atom share one pair of electrons.

2. Double bond – two atoms share two pairs of electrons.
3. Triple bond – two atoms share three pairs of electrons.

What’s More

Activity 2. Empirical vs molecular formula

Identify the following chemical formulas as empirical, molecular, or both. Write E for
empirical, M for molecular and EM for both on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Pb2O4 _____________
2. PbO2 _____________
3. NaBr _____________
4. Sr3P2 _____________
5. Fe2(C2O4)2 _____________
6. Cu2O2 ____________
7. BaS ____________
8. Pb2(CO3)4 ____________
9. Ba2S2 ____________
10. FeBr3 ____________

Activity 3. Structural formula

Illustrate the Lewis dot structure and the bond- line formula of the following
compounds.

Compound Lewis dot structure Bond-line formula

NI2

CBr2

CS2

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 What I Have Learned

Activity 4
Read and identify what is being asked in the following statements.

__________ 1. These are electrons of an atom that takes part in chemical

bonding.
__________ 2. It is a type of bond wherein two atoms share three pairs of
electrons.
__________ 3. It uses symbols of elements and dots to represent its valence
electrons.
__________ 4. It is a compound formed when atoms share one or more pairs of
electrons.
__________ 5. It is a compound formed from a bond of a positively charged ion
and a negatively charged ion.
__________ 6. It shows the actual number of atoms of elements present in one
molecule of the compound.
__________ 7. It shows the simple whole number ratio of the atom of various
elements present in a molecule.
__________ 8. These are substances that are composed of two or more different
elements joined by chemical bonds.
__________ 9. It represents the chemical composition of a compound, uses
symbols of elements and numeric subscripts that tells the
number of atoms found in a compound.
__________ 10. It identifies the location of chemical bonds between the atoms of
a molecule.

What I Can Do

Activity 5
Read each question carefully then answer it as briefly as you can. Refer to the rubric
given below to guide you on how to answer the given questions.

1. What is the importance of knowing the chemical formula of a substance

in real life situations? Explain your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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 2. What is the advantage of using structural formula to represent a chemical
formula? Explain your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using a ball - stick model
with a space- filling model.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. In your own opinion, which chemical formula is more advantageous to
use, molecular formula or structural formula? Explain your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Rubric for short answer questions. Each question is worth 2 points.

2 points The answer indicates that the student completely understands
what is ask in the question. The student has provided an answer
that is accurate and complete. Supporting facts and/or
examples are included, and the information given is clear.

1 point The answer indicates that the student partially understands

what is ask in the question. The student has provided an answer
that includes information that is mostly correct, but the
information is too general. Some supporting facts and/or
examples may be incomplete or omitted.

0 The answer indicates that the student does not understand

what is ask in the question. The student has provided a
response that is inaccurate; the response has an insufficient
amount of information.; or the student has failed to respond to
the question.

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 Assessment

Read each questions carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer, write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following statement is FALSE?

A. Chemical formula tells us the number of a molecules in a
compound.
B. Empirical formula tells us the exact number of atoms in a
compound.
C. Molecular formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a
compound.
D. Structural formula shows the arrangement and bonds of atoms
within the molecule

2. What is the name of the number in a chemical formula that tells how many
atoms are in a molecule?
A. Coefficients
B. Subscripts
C. Mass number
D. Atomic number

3. The formula NaCl is an example of a/ an __________________formula.

A. empirical
B. molecular
C. structural
D. both A and B is correct

4. Which of the following best represents the bond between magnesium and
oxygen?

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5. What will form when two or more atoms share one or more pairs of electrons?
A. Compound
B. Ionic compound
C. Chemical formula
D. Covalent compound

6. The correct name of this formula, , is _______________.

A. oxygen hydride
B. hydrogen oxide
C. dihydrogen oxide
D. none of the above

7. What is the formula that gives the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a
compound?
A. Chemical Formula
B. Empirical Formula
C. Molecular Formula
D. Structural Formula

8. What is the substance that is composed of two or more different elements

joined by a chemical bonds?
A. compound
B. ionic bond
C. chemical bond
D. covalent bond

9. What is the set of symbols that shows the elements and the ratio of atoms
found in substance?
A. Ionic compound
B. Chemical formula
C. Structural formula
D. Covalent compound

10. What is a charged atom called?

A. Element
B. Ion
C. Isotopes
D. Molecule

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 11. Which of the following is the correct structural formula of CO2?

12. Which of the following best describes a valence electron?

A. It is often called backscattered electrons.
B. The electrons found near the center of the nucleus
C. These are the electrons that is found in the outermost shell of an
atom.
D. The electrons of atoms that participate in the formation of chemical
bonds.

13. What is the formula that gives the actual number of atoms of each element in
a compound?
A. Chemical formula
B. Empirical formula
C. Molecular formula
D. Structural formula

14. What will form when a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion
bond together?
A. Ionic compound
B. Binary compound
C. Ternary compound
D. Covalent compound

15. The chemical formula of glucose (C 6H12O6) is an example of a/an

__________________formula.
A. empirical
B. molecular
C. structural
D. both A and B is correct

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 Additional Activities

Illustrate the bond- line structural formula of the following molecular compound.
(Please show your complete solution)

C2H6 NH3 CCl4

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 References

(1) 2.4 chemical formulas – Chemistry. (n.d.).

https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/2-4-chemical-formulas/
(2) BD Editors. (2019, April 17). Chemical formula. Biology Dictionary.
https://biologydictionary.net/chemical-formula/
(3) Chemical formula. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-formula
(4) Chemical formulas | Boundless chemistry. (n.d.). Lumen Learning – Simple
Book Production. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-
chemistry/chapter/chemical-formulas/
(5) Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online dictionary.
(n.d.). https://www.merriam
webster.com/dictionary/structural%20formula
(6) Modelling molecules - Covalent bonds - OCR 21C - GCSE chemistry (Single
science) revision - OCR 21st century - BBC bitesize. (n.d.). BBC
Bitesize.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyqgqhv/revision/2
(7) Structural formulas. (n.d.).
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/studyguides/chemistry/chemistry/orga
nic-compounds/structural-formulas

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 Development Team of the Module
Writer: Coleen Michelle L. Magalong (SEHS)
Editor: Reynald Alfred A. Recede (MHS)
Ronald E. Escorpiso (MSHS)
Russel S. Berador (SEHS)
Maria Carmina R. Martin (MHS)
Reviewer: Jessica S. Mateo (EPS - Science)
Illustrator and Layout Artist: Christine G. Faraon (BNHS)
Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Ivy Coney A. Gamatero

Education Program Supervisor – Learning Resource Management Section

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division Office- Marikina City

191 Shoe Ave., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, 1800, Philippines

Telefax: (02) 682-2472 / 682-3989

Email Address: sdo.marikina@deped.gov.ph

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