Rules for Naming and Writing

Compounds
I.

Ionic Bonds

bonding between a metal and non-metal or the bond between a positive

ion and a negative ion forming a binary compound.

end in the suffix "ide"

Or bonding between a metal and a complex ion.

Steps in writing formulas:

Use a periodic table of elements and of ions.

Write the symbol and charge of the cation first (positive ion)
Write the symbol and charge of the anion next (negative ion)
Use criss-cross rule to balance for an electrically neutral compound.
Name

Symbol and Charge

Formula

1.

Sodium cloride

Na+

Cl-

NaCl

2.

Magnesium
oxide

Mg2+

O2-

MgO

3.

Calcium
bromide

4.

Aluminum
sulphide

Al3+

S2-

Al2S3

5.

Nickle (III)
chloride

Ni3+

Cl-

NiCl3

CaBr2

(indicates charge)

6.

Sodium
thiosulphate

(complex ion)

Na2S2O3

7.

Aluminum
silicate

Al2(SiO3)3
(must bracket a complex ion
with a subscript)

(complex ion)

8.

9.

Ammonium
phosphate

NH4+

Barium oxide

Ba2+

PO43-

(NH4)3PO4

(bracket comples ion with a

subscript)

O2-

Ba2O2

BaO
(written with the lowest
common multiple)

10.

II.

Pb4+

Lead(IV) oxide

O2-

Pb2O4

PbO2
(written again with the lowest
numbers)

Covalent Bonds

sharing of bonds between two non-metals

end in "ide"
Steps in writing formulas:

refer to periodic table of elements

write symbol of each element
use prefix system for naming.
1 - mono

6 - hexa

2 - di

7 - hepta

3 - tri

8 - octa

4 - tetra

9 - nona or ennea

5 - penta

10 - deca

Name

Symbols

Formula

1.

carbon monoxide

C O

CO

2.

carbon dioxide

C O

CO2

3.

carbon tetrachloride

Cl

CCl4

4.

dinitrogen monoxide

N O

N2O

5.

dinitrogen pentafluoride

N F

N2F5

III.

IV.

Binary Acids

contain hydrogen and a nonmetallic element

are an aqueous solution of the pure compound

have prefix hydro, suffix ic

1.

hydroiodic acid

HI(aq)

2.

hydrobromic acid

HBr(aq)

3.

hydrochloric acid

HCl(aq)

4.

hydrofluoric acid

HF(aq)

5.

hydrocyanic acid

HCN(aq)

(exception to the rule since it is not a binary compound)

Oxyacids

contain hydrogen, oxygen and a third element

name as though ionic then convert to the acid name.

Ionic name

Acid name

per __________ ate

per _______ ic acid

_________ ate*

_______ ic acid

__________ ite

_______ ous acid

hypo __________ ite

hypo _______ ous acid

V.
* Look up "ate" name

1.

number of oxygen decreases by one going down the chart

acid name corresponds to name across chart
add hydrogen, balance with criss-cross rule.
Formula

Ion Name

Acid Name

Formula

ClO4-

perchlorate

perchloric acid

HClO4(aq)

ClO3-

chlorate*

chloric acid

HClO3(aq)

ClO2-

chlorite

chlorous acid

HClO2(aq)

ClO-

hypochlorite

hypochlorous acid

HClO(aq)

2.

Formula

Ion Name

Acid Name

Formula

PO53-

perphosphate

perphosphoric acid

H3PO5(aq)

PO43-

phosphate*

phosphoric acid

H3PO4(aq)

PO33-

phosphite

phosphorous

H3PO3(aq)

PO23-

hypophosphite

hypophosphorous
acid

H3PO2(aq)
Use criss-cross rule

VII.

VIII.

Hydrated Compounds

ionic compounds that produce water when decomposed by heating

name as ionic compound

indicate number of water molecules using previous prefixes of "di", "tri",

etc. and the ending hydrate.
Name

Formula

1.

Copper(II) sulphate pentahydrate

CuSO4 . 5H2O

2.

Zinc chloride hexahydrate

ZnCl2 . 6H2O

Ions

an atom that has lost or gained one or more electrons. Ions usually occur
in an aqueous solution.

Complex Ions

groups of atoms which share electrons and exist together in aqueous

solution, i.e., carbonate ion CO32-

Cations

positively charged ions Rb+(aq)

Rubidium ion

negatively charged ions P3-(aq)

name according to data booklet
include the charge in the formula

Phosphide ion

Anions

KN03(s) K(aq)+ + NO-3(aq)

Potassium nitrate solid in a solution of H2O(l) breaks down into potassium ions
and nitrate ions.

EXERCISES
I.
a.

b.

Write the formulas for the following:

1.
silver chloride
2.
calcium fluoride
3.
aluminum oxide
4.
iron(III) sulphide
5.
lead(IV) oxide
6.
sodium dichromate
7.
calcium chlorite
8.
ammonium phosphate
Name the following:
1.
CaO
2.
CdS
3.
Ca3P2
4.
Mg3N2
5.
Mn2O5
6.
HgCl2
7.
Sn(N03)4
8.
K2Cr207

II.
a.

b.

Write the formulas for the following:

1.
sulphur trioxide
2.
phosphorous pentachloride
3.
dinitrogen trioxide
4.
dihydrogen monoxide
Name the following:
1.
SF6
2.
N2O4
3.
Cl2O7
4.
S2Cl2

III.
a.

b.

Write formulas for the following acids:

1.
hydrofluoric acid
2.
boric acid
3.
hypochlorous acid
4.
phosphorous acid
Name the following acids
1.
HI(aq)
2.
HClO4(aq)

3.
4.

H2SO4(aq)
CH3COOH(aq)

IV.
a.

b.

Write formulas for the following:

1.
magnesium sulphate heptahydrate
2.
calcium chloride dihydrate
3.
sodium chloride octahydrate
4.
aluminum chloride nonahydrate
Name the following:
1.
Na2CO3 . 10H2O
2.
BaCl2 . 4H2O
3.
Na2SO4 . 5H2O
4.
Ba(OH)2 . 6H2O

V.
a.

b.

Write formulas for the following:

1.
ammonium ion
2.
bromate ion
3.
acetate ion
4. phosphate ion
Name the following ions:
1.
K+(aq)
2.
Sr2+(aq)
3.
CO32-(aq)
4.
NO3-(aq)