5 Worksheets That Teach Writing Chemical Formulas for You

11/15/2020

Are you looking for worksheets that correct common student mistakes before they even happen? Or, maybe you need a worksheet set that guides them through the learning process? Perhaps your students struggle with notetaking?

I’ve rounded up my top 5 worksheets that will make teaching easier!

These worksheets either head off common misconceptions before they start, take your students by the hand and show them the process, or make learning really fun!

Teach the Order Through Color

The first issue you will likely see when students start to write chemical compounds is that they will not know whether to put the cation or anion first.

But, they won’t ask it like that. You will probably hear, “I don’t know which one comes first?”.

Head the whole issue off by using the worksheet, Intro to Writing Chemical Formulas. Or, you can do it yourself by drawing a bunch of chemical compounds on the board and have students color code them.

In the worksheet, students go through a page of chemical formulas and color code the cations and anions. Cations are positive and yellow. Anions are negative and blue. For the covalent compounds they color the element farthest to the left yellow, and the element farthest to the right blue. You can read more about how and why I color code my chemistry class here.

Then an amazing pattern forms and they go, “Ohhhhhh! I can do this!”

Of course you and I know that the more technical explanation is that the least electronegative element comes first.

But, sometimes, part of being the teacher is knowing when to give information and when to hold back.

Unless you are teaching AP or honors, I’d hold electronegativity back until a little later.

Teach Subscripts Through Flowcharts

This is one of those ideas that I think is best illustrated on the board in front of students and not from a PowerPoint. Walk them through the process with lots of arrows and colors.

Project a periodic table. Draw arrows from the element's location on the table to where you are working out the problem. Draw circles that represent the charges. Show them why we need subscripts and how we come up with them through crossing charges.

Then hand them this worksheet that walks them through crossing charges step by step with lots of arrows.

Or, continue the drawing theme without crossing charges. The worksheet below takes a more visual approach.

Balance Visually

If you have a bunch of students that need more “why” behind crossing charges, I’d show them this worksheet that has them draw out the ions.

The first page skips polyatomic ions to ease them into the concept. The next 2 pages can be saved for later once they have advanced through writing chemical formulas with polyatomic ions.

This worksheet is progressive so it gives them more information to start with at the beginning, but removes information as students learn so that they become proficient on their own.

This worksheet is perfect no matter if you are teaching AP or college prep chemistry courses.

Engage Students Through Competition

There is nothing like competition to spark fun learning in the classroom. Students will love this worksheet that shows them a bunch of ions and has them put them together as fast and as accurately as possible.

Students will huddle in groups trying to quietly come up with compounds without their peers hearing. It can be so funny! You'll have to remind them that only the most correct group wins!

What will you as the teacher love about it?

The key that writes out 40 of the most common chemical formulas that students come up with out of this list. It makes grading faster and easier for you. #teacherwin

Teach with the Ultimate Packet

Are you short on time or how to emphasize how important it is for your students to understand writing chemical compounds? Use this set of worksheets as a group activity, with a Jamboard, or use it to keep students "on-task" when taking notes.

Page 1 helps students identify the order to write the formula in, which is a major issue for many students.

Page 2 shows students the covalent compound prefixes and gives them ideas on how to memorize them easier.

Page 3 teaches students why we have to add subscripts to our chemical formulas through visual illustrations.

Page 4,5, and 6 give students practice with a step by step guide on naming ionic, covalent, and polyatomic ion compounds.

Page 7 combines naming all compound types. You have seen students "get it", until the different types of problems are put on the same page. Then students panic. This page prepares students for that hurdle.

These doodle notes illustrate the steps your students need to take, common student issues, and ask questions so that your students feel more comfortable than ever with chemistry.