NOMENCLATURE I

The first step in learning nomenclature is to learn the names of the individual elements, polyatomic
ions, and the special names. The second step is to take the names, which you have learned and
combine them though a set of rules. To be able to name compounds will require both of these steps.
Many people make the mistake of only doing the first step. This step is straightforward memorization,
so apply flash cards or some other rote memory method on a daily basis. The second step requires
practice, because there are so many possible combinations that it is not possible to make flash cards
for all of them (there are thousands of possibilities).

By learning, each of the new names when presented in class, plus a little review you should be able to
do the first step. While you should concentrate on the new names, you will need to continue looking
over the older names. The best approach is short study sessions, such as five minutes before or after
each class.

The second step requires learning and applying the nomenclature rules for binary and ternary
compounds. This section examines only binary compounds of the nonmetals. These rules also
include the metalloids and a few ternary compounds that only contain nonmetals and/or metalloids.
Later nomenclature sections will look at other compounds. In some cases, other names may be used;
however only those given in this exercise may receive credit in this class.

NOTE: The metalloids may follow the rules discussed for metals.

Special Names:

Some binary compounds, such as water, have special names. For these few compounds, the method
used in the first nomenclature step is sufficient. These names are fixed; there are no other rules to
apply. Along these lines, do not try to name one of these compounds by the rules given below. Thus,
H2O is water, and no other name is correct.

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Binary Compounds:

All other binary compounds follow one rule–their names end in -ide. (There are a few situations
where a ternary compound may have this ending also.) Other rules in addition to this one are
applicable depending on the type and number of atoms present.

If only nonmetals are present then a multiplying prefix may be necessary. (Hydrogen is the exception
to this, there are no prefixes used for hydrogen in binary compounds.) Multiplying prefixes tell how
many of each type of atom is present. The prefixes are:

1 = mono- 5 = penta- 8 = octa-

2 = di- 6 = hexa- 9 = nona-
3 = tri- 7 = hepta- 10 = deca-
4 = tetra-

There are other prefixes, but you are only responsible for these. The prefix mono- is seldom present;
the lack of any prefix indicates the fact that there is only one atom present. The only common
compound where mono is used is CO, carbon monoxide.

Since no prefixes are necessary to designate the number of hydrogen atoms present in a compound, it
is not always easy to predict the correct formula. In general, in the absence of other information, the
position of the element on the Periodic Table indicates the number of hydrogen atoms present in a
binary compound. Beginning with the far right of the table (column VIIIA or column 18), and moving
to the left, the number of hydrogens expected are: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Thus:

He HF H2O NH3 CH4

When putting together the name of a compound normally the element to the right, and/or higher on the
periodic table goes last. Exceptions include the Noble Gases (VIIIA), which are never last, and
hydrogen, which is often last. A discussion of the reason for this ordering appears later in the course.
Whichever element goes last in the name goes last in the written formula too. The ending of the
elemental name that is at the end is changed to -ide. For example:

Hydrogen = Hydride Carbon = Carbide

Nitrogen = Nitride Phosphorus = Phosphide
Oxygen = Oxide Sulfur = Sulfide
Fluorine = Fluoride Chlorine = Chloride
Bromine = Bromide Iodine = Iodide

In compounds containing only nonmetals, the name hydride is seldom used. These same names are
also present in binary compounds containing metals.

Again, this change to an -ide suffix is only used for the element appearing last in the formula or name.
Do not change the ending of the other element.

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Binary Acids:

As with many rules there are exceptions, the special names section presents most of these, the others
are certain compounds of hydrogen. In nomenclature, as elsewhere, hydrogen is a common exception.
One reason why hydrogen is an exception for binary compounds is that some of its compounds are
acids. The binary acids (hydrogen plus certain nonmetals) also have two word names. In their names,
binary acids have a hydro- prefix and an -ic acid ending. For example, HCl is hydrochloric acid.
There are only a few binary acids, the following list are the only ones that you will need to know for
this course:

Binary Compound Binary Acid

Hydrogen fluoride HF Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrogen chloride HCl Hydrochloric acid
Hydrogen bromide HBr Hydrobromic acid
Hydrogen iodide HI Hydroiodic acid
Hydrogen sulfide H2 S Hydrosulfuric acid

As with other acids, (see later) the formulas have the H in front. Non-acidic hydrogen compounds
have some other element listed first in the formula (except for H2O).

Technically the binary acids are only acids when they dissolve in water. In other situations, they are
ordinary binary compounds (for example, HCl is hydrogen chloride). For this class either name will
be acceptable unless information is given that indicates which name to use. This information may
appear in a problem, or it may be included with the formula. To indicate, in the formula, that one of
the above compounds must be named as an acid the designation (aq) is used (for example, HCl(aq)).
The aq in parentheses is the abbreviation for aqueous solution–a solution where something dissolves
in water. If anything else is included in parentheses after the name (for example, HCl(g)), it should be
named as a binary compound.

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General:

There are some situations where other nomenclature systems are used. One major alternate system is
for many compounds of carbon–this is the naming of organic compounds. Other systems occur for
many binary hydrogen compounds. You will not be responsible for these systems or for any special
names not given in class. If you see another name, which does not seem to follow these rules just use
it, you are not responsible for memorizing it.

The presence or lack of prefixes determines the formulas for other binary compounds. Mono- or no
prefix indicates that only one atom is present, while prefix gives the number of the other atoms
present.
Carbon dioxide CO2 (di = 2)
Chlorine trifluoride ClF3 (tri = 3)
Dinitrogen pentaoxide N2O5 (di = 2 and penta = 5)

Some of these rules extend to ternary compounds. This occurs only when there are no metals or ions
present. You will not need to learn these, however you should be able to recognize such names should
you see one.

Below are some examples of binary compounds. Look over them and make sure you understand why
the names and formulas appear as they do. These are just a few examples of the hundreds of binary
compounds, so do not expect this list to be complete. (Yes, these compounds all exist.)

AsF3 arsenic trifluoride GeO2 germanium dioxide

TeCl4 tellurium tetrachloride
XeO3 xenon trioxide
SiBr4 silicon tetrabromide
PCl5 phosphorus pentachloride
CO carbon monoxide
PN phosphorus nitride
CO2 carbon dioxide
IF7 iodine heptafluoride
P4O10 tetraphosphorus decaoxide
CH4 methane
N2O dinitrogen oxide
NO nitrogen oxide
N2O3 dinitrogen trioxide
NO2 nitrogen dioxide
N2O4 dinitrogen tetraoxide
N2O5 dinitrogen pentaoxide
S2F10 disulfur decafluoride
S7O2 heptasulfur dioxide
I4O9 tetraiodine nonaoxide
HI(g) hydrogen iodide
HF(aq) hydrofluoric acid
Cl2O7 dichlorine heptaoxide
Sb2S3 diantimony trisulfide
KrF2 krypton difluoride
SeF6 selenium hexafluoride
BI3 boron triiodide
NH3 ammonia
H 2S hydrogen sulfide
or hydrosulfuric acid
H2S(g) hydrogen sulfide
H2S(aq) hydrosulfuric acid
P4O8 tetraphosphorus octaoxide
H2O water
As4S10 tetraarsenic decasulfide
HBr(g) hydrogen bromide
P4S9 tetraphosphorus nonasulfide
OF2 oxygen difluoride
O2F2 dioxygen difluoride
SeBr4 selenium tetrabromide
TeO3 tellurium trioxide
XeOF4 xenon oxide tetrafluoride
HF(l) hydrogen fluoride
HCl hydrogen chloride
or hydrochloric acid

© 2006 Sevagram Enterprises

 PRACTICE SET I-1

Based on nomenclature section number 1

1. Bismuth ______________ 1. Sn ________________________

2. Carbon ______________ 2. Al ________________________

3. Diarsenic pentaoxide ________ 3. CCl4 ________________________

4. Nitrogen dioxide _____________ 4. PCl5 ________________________

5. Hydrogen bromide _____________ 5. B2F4 ________________________

6. Sulfur _____________ 6. F ________________________

7. Bromine _____________ 7. H2O ________________________

8. Selenium dioxide _____________ 8. ICl3 ________________________

9. Carbon monoxide _____________ 9. H2S(g) ________________________

10. Boron tribromide _____________ 10. SeO3 ________________________

11. Nitrogen _____________ 11. Pb ________________________

12. Disulfur decafluoride _______ 12. KrF2 ________________________

13. Phosphorus trichloride ______ 13. BCl3 ________________________

14. Sulfur tetrachloride ______ 14. TeO2 ________________________

15. Boron triiodide _____________ 15. I2O ________________________

16. Helium _____________ 16. CI4 ________________________

17. Silicon _____________ 17. Sb4O6 ________________________

18. Diiodine trioxide _____________ 18. NH3 ________________________

19. Hydrosulfuric acid ____________ 19. TeF4 ________________________

20. Diantimony trioxide ______ 20. I2O4 ________________________

© 2006 Sevagram Enterprises

 PRACTICE SET I-2

Based on nomenclature section number 1

1. Radon _____________ 1. SbF3 ________________________

2. Selenium _____________ 2. XeF2 ________________________

3. Silicon dioxide _____________ 3. NF3 ________________________

4. Carbon tetrabromide_____________ 4. HBr(aq) ________________________

5. Iodine chloride _____________ 5. I2O5 ________________________

6. Tin _____________ 6. Sb2O5 ________________________

7. Iodine _____________ 7. OF2 ________________________

8. Arsenic trichloride _____________ 8. HCl(g) ________________________

9. Diphosphorus pentaoxide _______ 9. GeBr4 ________________________

10. Dichlorine oxide _____________ 10. TeF6 ________________________

11. Argon _____________ 11. Bi ________________________

12. Antimony triiodide ______ 12. ClF ________________________

13. Carbon dioxide _____________ 13. SCl2 ________________________

14. Dibromine trioxide ______ 14. SeF4 ________________________

15. Hydroiodic acid _____________ 15. B2O3 ________________________

16. Tellurium _____________ 16. CF4 ________________________

17. Selenium hexafluoride _______ 17. CS2 ________________________

18. Germanium dioxide _______ 18. BrF3 ________________________

19. Selenium tetrachloride _______ 19. HF(g) ________________________

20. Dichlorine heptaoxide _______ 20. N2O5 ________________________

© 2006 Sevagram Enterprises

 PRACTICE SET I-3

Based on nomenclature section number 1

1. Arsenic _____________ 1. I ________________________

2. Oxygen _____________ 2. IF7 ________________________

3. Antimony trichloride _______ 3. SiCl4 ________________________

4. Disulfur dibromide _____________ 4. Cl2O4 ________________________

5. Hydrochloric acid _____________ 5. SiC ________________________

6. Hydrogen _____________ 6. SF4 ________________________

7. Phosphorus _____________ 7. NO ________________________

8. Nitrogen trichloride _______ 8. XeO4 ________________________

9. Silicon tetrabromide _______ 9. HI(g) ________________________

10. Tetraiodine nonaoxide _______ 10. S2F4 ________________________

11. Chlorine ______________ 11. Sb ________________________

12. Xenon ______________ 12. SeF4 ________________________

14. Hydrofluoric acid ______________ 13. TeO3 ________________________

14. Dinitrogen difluoride ________ 14. B2Br4 ________________________

15. Dichlorine dioxide______________ 15. As4O6 ________________________

16. Germanium ______________ 16. XeF4 ________________________

17. Sulfur hexafluoride ________ 17. PF5 ________________________

18. Carbon tetrafluoride ________ 18. N2F4 ________________________

19. Sulfur trioxide ______________ 19. CH4 ________________________

20. Dinitrogen tetraoxide ________ 20. S2Cl2 ________________________

© 2006 Sevagram Enterprises

 PRACTICE SET I-4

Based on nomenclature section number 1

1. Antimony tribromide ________ 1. ClO2 ________________________

2. Bromine dioxide ______________ 2. AsF3 ________________________

3. Tetraphosphorus hexaoxide_________ 3. GeCl4 ________________________

4. Ditellurium pentaoxide ________ 4. H2Se ________________________

5. Iodine pentafluoride ________ 5. P4O10 ________________________

6. Selenium difluoride ________ 6. AsBr3 ________________________

7. Boron ______________ 7. SbF5 ________________________

8. Krypton ______________ 8. BrO2 ________________________

9. Diphosphorus trioxide ________ 9. Al ________________________

10. Diarsenic trioxide ______________ 10. N2O3 ________________________

11. Bromine chloride ________ 11. XeO3 ________________________

12. Neon ______________ 12. BF3 ________________________

13. Tetrasulfur tetranitride ________ 13. Si2Cl6 ________________________

14. Tellurium tetrafluoride ________ 14. He ________________________

15. Diantimony tetraoxide ________ 15. BrO3 ________________________

16. Antimony ______________ 16. Ar ________________________

17. Silicon tetrafluoride ________ 17. O2F2 ________________________

18. Chlorine trifluoride ________ 18. SeF6 ________________________

19. Selenium tetrachloride ________ 19. NBr3 ________________________

20. Chlorine pentafluoride ________ 20. As2S3 ________________________

© 2006 Sevagram Enterprises

 PRACTICE SET I-5

Based on nomenclature section number 1

1. Antimony pentachloride ________ 1. Br ________________________

2. Tetraphosphorus decasulfide________ 2. Rn ________________________

3. Diboron tetrachloride ________ 3. IF3 ________________________

4. Aluminum bromide______________ 4. SO2 ________________________

5. Dinitrogen oxide ______________ 5. P4O8 ________________________

6. Antimony ______________ 6. Kr ________________________

7. Tetraboron tetrachloride ________ 7. Ne ________________________

8. Germanium dichloride____________ 8. XeF6 ________________________

9. Tribromine octaoxide _________ 9. Sb2S3 ________________________

10. Bromine pentafluoride ________ 10. BN ________________________

11. Diantimony triselenide ________ 11. Xe ________________________

12. Phosphorus tribromide ________ 12. Cl ________________________

13. Radon difluoride ______________ 13. SeBr2 ________________________

14. Carbon diselenide ______________ 14. AsF5 ________________________

15. Diarsenic tetraiodide ________ 15. P2Cl4 ________________________

16. Lead ______________ 16. Ge ________________________

17. Hydrogen telluride______________ 17. Te ________________________

18. Boron phosphide ______________ 18. SeBr4 ________________________

19. Iodine fluoride ______________ 19. S2I2 ________________________

20. Tetraphosphorus nonaoxide_______ 20. Ge3Cl8 ________________________

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