This document discusses how to write chemical formulas. It explains that a chemical formula tells us the types and numbers of atoms in a compound. It then outlines five steps for writing chemical formulas: 1) Write the symbols of the ions side by side in order of positive then negative, 2) Write the valency of each ion, 3) Transfer the valencies to offset them, 4) Omit valencies that are the same, and include different valencies in the formula, 5) For radicals like sulfate and phosphate, the net charge indicates the radical's valency and it is written in parentheses.