How do you derive the formula of a compound from its name?

To derive the formula of a compound from its name, you need to understand the rules of nomenclature and the periodic table.

The formula of a compound can be derived from its name by understanding the rules of nomenclature, which is the system of naming chemical compounds. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has established these rules. The name of a compound usually gives you information about the elements it contains and in what proportions.

Firstly, you need to be familiar with the periodic table and the symbols of the elements. For example, 'H' stands for Hydrogen, 'O' for Oxygen, 'Na' for Sodium, and so on.

Secondly, you need to understand the prefixes used in the names of compounds. These prefixes indicate the number of atoms of each element in the compound. For example, in carbon dioxide (CO2), the prefix 'di-' in dioxide means there are two oxygen atoms.

For ionic compounds (compounds formed by a metal and a non-metal), the name usually consists of the names of the two elements. The metal is named first, followed by the non-metal. The non-metal's name is slightly altered to end in '-ide'. For example, the compound formed by sodium and chlorine is named sodium chloride, and its formula is NaCl.

For covalent compounds (compounds formed by non-metals), the name of the compound also gives you information about the number of atoms of each element. For example, in carbon dioxide, there is one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms, hence the formula is CO2.

In summary, deriving the formula of a compound from its name involves understanding the periodic table, the rules of nomenclature, and the types of compounds.