CHEMISTRY

Chemistry nomenclature is a system of rules for naming and interpreting substances according to what atoms they include. It follows most basic rules for punctuation, typeform, grouping symbols, roman numerals, level changes, and spacing.

Elements

A chemical element contains one type of atom. Its chemical symbol consists of either one capital letter or one capital letter followed by one lowercase letter. The letters of a chemical element are not contracted, and grade 1 indicators are used when needed.

Oxygen: O

⠠⠕⠭⠽⠛⠢⠒⠀⠠⠕

Sulfer: S

⠠⠎⠥⠇⠋⠻⠒⠀⠰⠠⠎

Chlorine: Cl

⠠⠡⠇⠕⠗⠔⠑⠒⠀⠠⠉⠇

Sodium (natrium): Na

⠠⠎⠕⠙⠊⠥⠍⠀⠐⠣⠝⠁⠞⠗⠊⠥⠍⠐⠜⠒⠀⠠⠝⠁

Compounds

Combining one or more elements makes a compound. For example, table salt is sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) and is written NaCl. When writing a compound, each element symbols retains its form and does not alter the capitalization.

Examples:

NaCl

⠠⠝⠁⠠⠉⠇

Lye is a combination of sodium (Na), oxygen (O), and oydrogen (H)

Na + O + H = NaOH

⠠⠝⠁⠀⠐⠖⠀⠠⠕⠀⠐⠖⠀⠰⠠⠓⠀⠐⠶⠀⠠⠝⠁⠠⠕⠠⠓

Capitalization

It is preferable to use the capital letter indicator for each capital letter in a compound or formula rather than the capital word indicator. Although, when multiple capital letters appear in a compound or formula, it is acceptable to use a word, or passage indicator if it provides more clarity.

Examples of capital letter indicators:

Potassium Chloride: KOH

⠠⠏⠕⠞⠁⠎⠎⠊⠥⠍⠀⠌⠇⠕⠗⠊⠙⠑⠒⠀⠠⠅⠠⠕⠠⠓

Sodium formate: HCOONa

⠠⠎⠕⠙⠊⠥⠍⠀⠿⠍⠁⠞⠑⠒⠀⠠⠓⠠⠉⠠⠕⠠⠕⠠⠝⠁

Examples of capital word indicators:

LHMDS

⠠⠠⠇⠓⠍⠙⠎

m-CPBA

⠍⠤⠠⠠⠉⠏⠃⠁

Subscript

A subscript number after an element symbol specifies the number of atoms in a compound. General rules for level change indicators are followed.

Examples:

Water: H₂0

⠠⠺⠁⠞⠻⠒⠀⠠⠓⠰⠢⠼⠃⠠⠕

Sugar: C₆H₁₂O₆

⠠⠎⠥⠛⠜⠒⠀⠠⠉⠰⠢⠼⠋⠠⠓⠢⠼⠁⠃⠠⠕⠢⠼⠋

Note: A grade 1 indicator is required before the first level change indicator, then the number indicator that follow sets uncontracted mode for the remainder of the symbol sequence.

Superscript

A superscript plus or minus that follows a chemical symbol specifies the charge of ions (negative or positive) of an atom. A number before the plus or minus indicates the level of the charge. Sometimes more than one + or – will appear in a row.

Examples:

Fe²⁺+e^1-

⠰⠰⠠⠋⠑⠔⠣⠼⠃⠐⠖⠜⠐⠖⠑⠔⠣⠼⠁⠐⠤⠜

Note: Braille grouping symbols are needed to identify that both the number and the +/- are raised.

Sulfate ${SO}_{4^{2 -}}$

⠠⠎⠠⠕⠰⠢⠣⠼⠙⠔⠣⠼⠃⠐⠤⠜⠜

Note: Braille grouping symbols for the superscript (2-) are nested inside the braille grouping symbols for the subscript (4).

Roman Numerals

Roman numerals in chemistry are used to denote charge and oxidation state of an element. They are capitalized as a group (or word) because Roman numerals are considered one number.

Roman numerals

Fe²⁺ = iron(II)

⠠⠋⠑⠰⠔⠰⠣⠼⠃⠐⠖⠜⠀⠐⠶⠀⠊⠗⠕⠝⠐⠣⠠⠠⠊⠊⠐⠜

Manganese (V) oxide

⠠⠍⠁⠝⠛⠁⠝⠑⠎⠑⠀⠐⠣⠰⠠⠧⠐⠜⠀⠕⠭⠊⠙⠑

Note: The grade 1 indicator is needed for roman numeral V.

Isotope Notation (Left Subscript and superscript)

In order to identify different isotypes of an element, subscripts and superscripts are added to the left side of the element's symbol. In print the numbers appear one on top of the other but in braille, the subscript is listed first, followed by the superscript. If the element has an ionic charge, that appears as a superscript on the right side of the element symbol.

Examples:

$_{1}^{1}H$

⠰⠢⠼⠁⠔⠼⠁⠠⠓

$_{13}^{27}{Al}^{3 +}$

⠰⠢⠼⠁⠉⠔⠼⠃⠛⠠⠁⠇⠔⠣⠼⠉⠐⠖⠜

Arrow

Many types or arrows are used in chemistry. The most simples single shaft arrows show change or other reactions, and the line through previous item symbol is used for negation.

Examples:

$R \rightarrow P$

⠰⠠⠗⠀⠰⠳⠕⠀⠰⠠⠏

$R \nrightarrow P$

⠰⠠⠗⠀⠰⠳⠕⠈⠱⠀⠰⠠⠏

$A + B\ \leftrightarrow C$

⠠⠁⠐⠖⠠⠃⠀⠰⠳⠺⠗⠕⠀⠰⠠⠉

Chemistry is very graphic in nature and is often expressed by diagrams and other embossed raised line drawings. The horizontal line mode can be used to make simple graphic representations of chemical bonds and other reactions. Basic spatial guidelines can be found in the next unit (12).

Example:

CH₄

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠓⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠠⠓⠀⠐⠒⠒⠒⠀⠠⠉⠀⠒⠒⠒⠀⠠⠓

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠓

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