Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Module 2
Naming Binary Compounds

Naming Compounds Containing Polyatomic Ions

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

2.1. Represent compounds using chemical formulas, structural formulas and models.
2.2. Name compounds given their formula and write formula given the name of the compound.

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

THE BIG IDEA

Chemical nomenclature is the system of names that chemists use to identify

compounds. When a new substance is formulated, it must be named in order to distinguish it
from all other substances. In this module, we will restrict our discussion to the nomenclature
of inorganic compounds—compounds that do not generally contain carbon.

DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds

Rules for Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds
1. Write the formula for the metal ion followed by the formula for the nonmetal ion.
2. Combine the smallest numbers of each ion needed to give the charge sum equal to
zero.
3. Write the formula for the compound as the symbol for the metal and nonmetal,
each followed by a subscript of the number determined in 2.

Figure 1. Charges of Selected ions in the Periodic Table

Write a Formula for the Ionic Write a formula for the ionic
Compound that forms from compound that forms from
Aluminum and Oxygen magnesium and oxygen.
Write the symbol for the metal
and its charge followed by the
symbol of the nonmetal and its
charge. For many elements, you
can determine these charges
from their group number in the
periodic table

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Make the magnitude of the

charge on each ion (without the
sign) become the subscript for
the other ion.

If possible, reduce the In this case, the numbers To reduce the subscripts,
subscripts to give a ratio with cannot be reduced any further; divide both subscripts by 2.
the smallest whole numbers. the correct formula is,

EXAMPLE

Complete the Table, filling in each box with the proper formula.

DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Naming Binary Compounds

Binary compounds contain only two different elements. Many binary compounds are formed
when a metal combines with a nonmetal to form a binary ionic compound. The metal loses one or more
electrons to become a cation while the nonmetal gains one or more electrons to become an anion. The
cation is written first in the formula, followed by the anion.

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Examples of Elements Forming Anions

Symbol Element Stem Anion Name

Br Bromine brom Bromide
Cl Chlorine chlor Chloride
F Flourine fluor Fluoride
H Hydrogen hydr _______________
I Iodine iod _______________
N Nitrogen nitr _______________
O Oxygen ox _______________
P Phosphorus phosph _______________
S Sulfur sulf _______________

Compounds may contain more than one atom of the same element, but as long as they contain
only two different elements and only one compound of these two elements exists, the name
follows the rules for binary compounds:

Formula Name Formula Name

AlCl3 _________________ ______ Lithium Iodide
Al2O3 _________________ ______ Magnesium Bromide
CaC2 _________________ ______ Sodium Hydride
BaS _________________ ______ Sodium Oxide
AlN _________________ ______ Strontium Chloride

Binary Ionic Compounds Containing a Metal that can Form Two or More type pf Cations

Names and Charges of Some Common Metal Ions That Have More Than One Type of Cation

Formula Stock System Classical Name

Fe +2 Iron (II) Ferrous
Fe +3 Iron (III) Ferric
Cu +1 Copper (I) Cuprous

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Cu +2 Copper (II) Cupric

Hg +1 Mercury (I)
Hg +2 Mercury (II)
Sn +2 Tin (II)
Sn +4 Tin (III)
Pb +2 Lead (II)
Pb +4 Lead (IV)
As +3 Arsenic (III)
As +5 Arsenic (V)
Ti +3 Titanium (III)
Ti +4 Titanium (IV)

Write the Name for each of the following compounds using the Stock and Classical System:

Formula Stock System Classical Name

PbI2
SnF4
Fe2O3
CuO

Write Formulas for the following compounds:

Stock System Formula Classical Name

Tin (IV) Chromate
Chromium (III) Bromide
Tin (II) Fluoride
Copper (I) Oxide

Binary Ionic Compounds Containing a Two NonMetal

Compounds between nonmetals are molecular, not ionic. Therefore, a different system for
naming them is used.

Here are some examples of compounds that illustrate this system:

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Formula Name of Compound Formula Name of Compound

CO Carbon Monoxide N2 O Dinitrogen Monoxide
CO2 Carbon Dioxide _____ Dinitrogen Tetroxide
PCl3 __________________ _____ Nitrogen Monoxide
SO2 __________________ N2O3
P2O5 __________________ _____ DiSulfur Dichloride
CCl4 __________________ S2F10 __________________

Acid derived from Binary Compounds

Formula Acid in Pure State Acid Name (Dissolved in Water)

H2 S Hydrogen Sulfide Hydrosulfuric Acid
HCl Hydrogen Chloride Hydrochloric Acid
HBr ___________________ ___________________
HI ___________________ ___________________
HF ___________________ ___________________
H2Se ___________________ ___________________

EXAMPLE

Name this Binary Compounds

1. KBr __________________________
2. Ca3N2 __________________________
3. SO3 __________________________
4. SnF2 __________________________
5. CuCl2 __________________________
6. N2O4 __________________________

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Naming Compounds with Polyatomic Ions

A polyatomic ion is an ion that contains two or more elements. Compounds containing
polyatomic ions are composed of three or more elements and usually consist of one or more
cations combined with a negative polyatomic ion. In general, naming compounds containing
polyatomic ions is similar to naming binary compounds. The cation is named first, followed
by the name for the negative polyatomic ion.

Names, Formulas and Charges of Some Common Polyatomic Ions

Oxy-Anions and Oxy-Acids of Chlorine

Name this Compounds:

1. NaNO3 ____________________________________

2. Ca3(PO4)2 ____________________________________

3. KOH ____________________________________

4. Li2CO3 ____________________________________

5. NaClO3 ____________________________________

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Acids
The first step in naming these acids is to determine that the compound in question is really an
oxy-acid. The keys to identification are (1) hydrogen is the first element in the compound’s formula
and (2) the second part of the formula consists of a polyatomic ion containing oxygen.

Hydrogen in an oxy-acid is not specifically designated in the acid name. The presence of
hydrogen in the compound is indicated by the use of the word acid in the name of the substance. To
determine the particular type of acid, the polyatomic ion following hydrogen must be examined. The
name of the polyatomic ion is modified in the following manner: (1) -ate changes to an -ic ending; (2)
-ite changes to an –ous ending. The compound with the -ic ending contains more oxygen than the one
with the -ous ending. Consider these examples:

Anion Formula Acid in Pure State Acid Name

Hydrogen ___ +ate/+ite (Dissolved in Water)
___+ic/+ous ACID
SO4-2 H2SO4 Hydrogen Sulfate Sulfuric Acid
Sulfate Ion

SO3-2 H2SO3 Hydrogen Sulfite Sulfurous Acid

Sulfite Ion

NO3- HNO3 Hydrogen Nitrate Nitric Acid

Nitrate Ion

NO2- HNO2 Hydrogen Nitrite Nitrous Acid

Nitrite Ion

CO3-2 H2CO3
Carbonate Ion

BO3-3 H3BO3
Borate

PO4-3 H3PO4
Phosphate

PO3-3 H3PO3
Phosphite

IO3- HIO3
Iodate Ion

C2H3O2- HC2H3O2
Acetate Ion

C2O4-2 H2C2O4
Oxalate Ion

BrO3- HBrO3
Bromate Ion

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

EXAMPLE

Name these Compounds:

1. Cu2CO3 _________________________________
2. Fe(ClO)3 _________________________________
3. Sn (C2H3O2)2 _________________________________
4. HBrO3 _________________________________
5. HBr _________________________________

Write Formulas for:

1. Lead (II) Nitrate _________________________________

2. Potassium Phosphate _________________________________
3. Mercury (II) Cyanide _________________________________
4. Ammonium Chromate_________________________________

Figure . Elements that form diatomic molecules Elements that normally exist as diatomic molecules are
highlighted in yellow on this periodic table. Note that they are all nonmetals, and include four of the halogens

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 Module 2– Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Common Names, Formulas, and Chemical Names of Familiar Substances

LEARNING RESOURCES

Books
Bauer,R. et al (2016). General Chemistry. Mc Graw Hill
Tro, N. (2017). Introductory Chemistry 6th Edition. Pearson Education Inc.
Bayqueen A. and Pena G. (2017) Exploring Life Through Science: General Chemistry 2
Senior High School. Phoenix Publishing House
Hein M. et al. (2016) Foundation of College Chemistry 15th Edition. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.

ABOUT THE MODULE

Module Author/ Creator: Dr. JED C. TOLENTINO

Template and Layout Designer: Mr. FLORENCE SOMORIA

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