Chemical Formulas List for Class 10 - Summary
In Class 10 Science (Chemistry), remembering chemical formulas and their chemical/common names is essential for balancing chemical equations, understanding reaction mechanisms, and scoring high marks in board examinations (CBSE, ICSE, and State Boards). From acids, bases, and commercial salts to carbon compounds and ores, having a comprehensive formula sheet makes quick revision straightforward and effective.
Below is the complete Chemical Formulas List for Class 10, organized chapter-wise with common names, IUPAC/chemical names, and molecular formulas, along with key reactions and practical uses.
Chemical Formulas List for Class 10 – Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Subject / Grade | Class 10 Science (Chemistry) |
| Curriculum Covered | NCERT, CBSE, ICSE, and State Educational Boards |
| Core Chapters Included | 1. Chemical Reactions & Equations 2. Acids, Bases & Salts 3. Metals & Non-Metals 4. Carbon & Its Compounds |
| Key Topics | Common Commercial Names, Chemical Names, Molecular Formulas, Water of Crystallization |
| Usefulness | Board Exam Preparation, Balancing Equations, Practical Viva, NTSE, Olympiads |
1. Important Commercial Salts & Daily Life Compounds
These compounds appear frequently in Class 10 board exam questions concerning preparation, properties, and chemical reactions:
| Common / Trade Name | Chemical Name | Chemical Formula | Key Uses / Notes |
| Common Salt / Table Salt | Sodium Chloride | NaCl | Daily food seasoning, raw material for chlor-alkali process |
| Baking Soda | Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate | NaHCO₃ | Baking, antacids, soda-acid fire extinguishers |
| Washing Soda | Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate | Na₂CO₃·10H₂O | Removing permanent hardness of water, glass & soap industry |
| Soda Ash | Anhydrous Sodium Carbonate | Na₂CO₃ | Formed on heating washing soda |
| Bleaching Powder | Calcium Oxychloride | CaOCl₂ | Disinfecting drinking water, bleaching cotton & linen |
| Plaster of Paris (POP) | Calcium Sulphate Hemihydrate | CaSO₄·½H₂O | Setting fractured bones, making statues & decorative items |
| Gypsum | Calcium Sulphate Dihydrate | CaSO₄·2H₂O | Used to manufacture Plaster of Paris and cement |
| Quicklime | Calcium Oxide | CaO | Used in cement making, reacts vigorously with water |
| Slaked Lime / Lime Water | Calcium Hydroxide | Ca(OH)₂ | White-washing walls, testing carbon dioxide gas |
| Limestone / Marble / Chalk | Calcium Carbonate | CaCO₃ | Building material, antacids, manufacture of lime |
| Caustic Soda | Sodium Hydroxide | NaOH | Soap and detergent manufacturing, paper making |
| Caustic Potash | Potassium Hydroxide | KOH | Soft soaps, alkaline batteries |
| Blue Vitriol | Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate | CuSO₄·5H₂O | Blue crystals; turns white anhydrous CuSO₄ upon heating |
| Green Vitriol | Ferrous Sulphate Heptahydrate | FeSO₄·7H₂O | Green crystals; thermal decomposition produces Fe₂O₃, SO₂, SO₃ |
| White Vitriol | Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate | ZnSO₄·7H₂O | Zinc supplement, dyeing mordant |
| Sal Ammoniac / Nausadar | Ammonium Chloride | NH₄Cl | Sublimable salt, dry cell batteries |
| Alum / Phitkari (Potash Alum) | Potassium Aluminium Sulphate | K₂SO₄·Al₂(SO₄)₃·24H₂O | Water purification, blood coagulant (styptic) |
2. Common Acids and Bases
| Name | Type | Chemical Formula | Source / Occurrence |
| Hydrochloric Acid | Strong Mineral Acid | HCl | Gastric juice in human stomach, PVC manufacturing |
| Sulphuric Acid (King of Chemicals) | Strong Mineral Acid | H₂SO₄ | Lead-acid car batteries, fertilizer production |
| Nitric Acid | Strong Oxidizing Acid | HNO₃ | Manufacture of fertilizers (ammonium nitrate), explosives |
| Acetic Acid (Ethanoic Acid) | Weak Organic Acid | CH₃COOH | Vinegar (5% – 8% solution in water) |
| Formic Acid (Methanoic Acid) | Weak Organic Acid | HCOOH | Ant sting, nettle leaf sting |
| Carbonic Acid | Weak Dibasic Acid | H₂CO₃ | Carbonated soft drinks / aerated water |
| Lactic Acid | Organic Acid | C₃H₆O₃ | Curd / sour milk |
| Citric Acid | Organic Acid | C₆H₈O₇ | Lemon, oranges, citrus fruits |
| Oxalic Acid | Organic Acid | C₂H₂O₄ / (COOH)₂ | Tomatoes, spinach |
| Tartaric Acid | Organic Acid | C₄H₆O₆ | Tamarind, unripened grapes; mixed in baking powder |
| Magnesium Hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia) | Mild Base / Antacid | Mg(OH)₂ | Antacid for relieving stomach hyperacidity |
| Ammonium Hydroxide | Weak Base | NH₄OH | Window cleaning solutions |
3. Important Oxides, Gases & Ores (Metals and Non-Metals)
| Substance Name | Chemical Formula | Nature / Description |
| Aluminium Oxide (Alumina) | Al₂O₃ | Amphoteric oxide (reacts with both acids and bases) |
| Zinc Oxide | ZnO | Amphoteric oxide |
| Carbon Monoxide | CO | Neutral, toxic gas formed by incomplete combustion |
| Carbon Dioxide | CO₂ | Acidic oxide, turns lime water milky due to CaCO₃ formation |
| Sulphur Dioxide | SO₂ | Choking, acidic gas with smell of burning sulphur |
| Nitrogen Dioxide | NO₂ | Brown pungent fumes evolved on heating lead nitrate |
| Rust | Fe₂O₃·xH₂O | Hydrated Iron(III) oxide formed during corrosion |
| Cinnabar | HgS | Chief ore of Mercury |
| Bauxite | Al₂O₃·2H₂O | Chief ore of Aluminium |
| Haematite | Fe₂O₃ | Chief ore of Iron |
| Zinc Blende | ZnS | Sulphide ore of Zinc (processed via roasting) |
| Calamine | ZnCO₃ | Carbonate ore of Zinc (processed via calcination) |
| Lead Iodide | PbI₂ | Bright yellow precipitate formed in double displacement reaction |
| Barium Sulphate | BaSO₄ | Insoluble white precipitate |
| Silver Chloride | AgCl | White compound; turns grey in sunlight via photochemical reaction |
| Silver Bromide | AgBr | Light yellow compound used in black and white photography |
| Aqua Regia | 3 HCl : 1 HNO₃ | Mixture of conc. HCl and conc. HNO₃ in 3:1 ratio (dissolves gold/platinum) |
4. Carbon and Its Compounds (Organic Chemistry)
| Compound Name | IUPAC Name | Molecular Formula | Functional Group / Class |
| Methane | Methane | CH₄ | Alkane (CₙH₂ₙ₊₂) – Major component of CNG / Biogas |
| Ethane | Ethane | C₂H₆ | Alkane (Single bond C-C) |
| Ethene (Ethylene) | Ethene | C₂H₄ | Alkene (CₙH₂ₙ) – Double bond C=C |
| Ethyne (Acetylene) | Ethyne | C₂H₂ | Alkyne (CₙH₂ₙ₋₂) – Triple bond C≡C, used in oxy-acetylene welding |
| Methanol (Wood Spirit) | Methanol | CH₃OH | Alcohol (-OH group); highly toxic |
| Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol) | Ethanol | C₂H₅OH | Alcohol; active component in beverages, solvent, tincture iodine |
| Methanoic Acid (Formic Acid) | Methanoic Acid | HCOOH | Carboxylic Acid (-COOH group) |
| Ethanoic Acid (Acetic Acid) | Ethanoic Acid | CH₃COOH | Carboxylic Acid; freezes at 290 K (Glacial Acetic Acid) |
| Formaldehyde | Methanal | HCHO | Aldehyde (-CHO group) |
| Acetaldehyde | Ethanal | CH₃CHO | Aldehyde |
| Acetone | Propan-2-one | CH₃COCH₃ | Ketone (>C=O group); nail polish remover |
| Ethyl Ethanoate | Ethyl Ethanoate | CH₃COOC₂H₅ | Ester (-COOR group); sweet-smelling compound |
| Sodium Stearate (Soap) | Sodium Octadecanoate | C₁₇H₃₅COONa | Sodium salt of long-chain fatty acid |
| Glucose | Glucose | C₆H₁₂O₆ | Simple carbohydrate; substrate in respiration |
How to Write Chemical Formulas Correctly (Criss-Cross Method)
To derive and write chemical formulas easily without memorizing blindly, use the valency criss-cross method:
- Write Symbols: Write the chemical symbols of the constituent cation (positive ion) on the left and anion (negative ion) on the right (e.g., Al and O).
- Write Valencies: Write the combining capacity / valency of each radical below its symbol (Al = 3, O = 2).
- Criss-Cross: Swap and cross-over the valencies to become subscripts of the opposite radical (Al becomes Al₂, O becomes O₃).
- Simplify Subscripts: If the valencies have a common factor, divide by the highest common factor. Enclose polyatomic ions (e.g., OH⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻) in brackets if the subscript is greater than 1 (e.g., Ca(OH)₂).
Download Chemical Formulas List for Class 10 PDF: Students can download the complete printable PDF formula sheet for Class 10 Science using the download link below.
