- Crisscross method
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This article is about the naming of molecules in analytical chemistry. For an algorithm for mathematical optimization, see criss-cross algorithm.
The Crisscross method is a method of finding out the chemical formula of a metal and non-metal that combine to form an ionic bond.[1]
To use this method, the absolute value of the oxidation number of the first ion is used as the subscript of the second, and vice versa. The subscripts are then reduced by the greatest common factor. For instance, to find the formula for magnesium oxide
The first word is the metal, which retains its name. The second word is the non-metal, which retains its element prefix and add ...IDE as its suffix. The subscript number of an element doesn't affect the name
e.g.: a. Al3 S2-
Al2 S3 Which then becomes Aluminum Sulfide
References
- ^ Sharon Bewick; Jonathan Edge; Therese Forsythe; and Richard Parsons. CK12 Chemistry. CK-12 Foundation. pp. 348–349. GGKEY:J8HDA9JYCCN. http://books.google.com/books?id=pGh6afAR2joC&pg=PA348. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
External links
- Formula Writing, SparkNotes
Categories:- Analytical chemistry
- Chemistry stubs
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