Skip to main content
Chapter 5 of 9
Revision Notes

Language of Chemistry — Revision Notes

ICSE · Class 8 · Chemistry

Language of Chemistry revision notes for ICSE Class 8 Chemistry: 4 topics in quick points. Part of the ICSE Class 8 Chemistry syllabus.

43 questions32 flashcards4 formulas & key relations5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Language of Chemistry? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for revision notes and more.

Free trial, no card needed.

Key Topics to Revise

1

Chemical Symbols

  • A symbol is the short hand representation for the atom of a specific element. Each chemical element has its own unique symbol.
  • Most symbols are one or two letters. The first letter is always capital; the second letter, if present, is small.
  • John Jacob Berzelius systematically assigned the first letter of the name of an element, in capital, as its symbol.
2

Valency and Radicals

  • Valency is the combining capacity of an atom of an element or of a radical with the atoms of other elements or radicals to form molecules.
  • Valency is the number of hydrogen atoms that will combine with or displace one atom of that element or radical.
  • The valency of hydrogen is taken as 1.
3

Writing Molecular Formulae

  • A molecular formula of a compound is the symbolic representation of its one molecule. It shows the number of atoms of each element present in it.
  • To write a formula, symbols and valencies of the combining elements or radicals must be known.
  • The criss-cross method is used to write formulae.
4

Molecular Mass

  • Molecular mass is the algebraic sum of the masses of all the atoms present in a given molecule.
  • Molecular formula helps in calculating the mass of one molecule.
  • Carbon is the standard unit for measurement of atomic mass.

Get complete notes with diagrams and examples

Full Notes

Key Concepts

A symbol is the short handValency is the combining capacityA radical is an atomSome elements show more than oneA molecular formula of a compound

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Language of Chemistry for ICSE Class 8 Chemistry?
Key topics in Language of Chemistry include Chemical Symbols, Valency and Radicals, Writing Molecular Formulae, Molecular Mass. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 8 exams.
How should I revise Language of Chemistry for Class 8 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 43 practice questions on Language of Chemistry. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

For serious students

Get the full Language of Chemistry chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for ICSE Class 8 Chemistry. Free to start, no card needed.