Question

Write the chemical formula of the following compound in a step-by-step manner –

Potassium nitrate

Answer 1

Write the formula of

Potassium nitrate	Symbol	Valency
Potassium	\[\ce{K}\]	\[\ce1^+\]
Nitrate	\[\ce{NO3}\]	\[\ce1^-\]

Step I – Write each symbol with its valency.
Positive ion is written first
\[\ce{K}^{1+}\]  \[\ce{[NO3]}^{1-}\]

Step II – Interchange the valencies and ignoring the +ve and −ve signs

The Formula is \[\ce{KNO3}\]