Naming of Inorganic Compounds

Nomenclature
Please:

Always have a copy of

the periodic table with
different ions.
 Writing Formulas - Naming Compounds

1) For 2 elements having the same oxidation states:

- subscripts must be written below and to the right of the symbols for both
binary and ternary compounds (since the same no need to write)

2) For 2 elements having different oxidation states:

a) Write the symbols, listing the element with a positive oxidation state first
(this will be a metal or something acting like a metal)
b) above each symbol, place the oxidation state of that element
c) subscripts must be written below and to the right of the symbols so that the
sum of electrons lost will be equal to the number gained. These subscripts
must be in the lowest whole number ratio.
d) Name the positive ion then the negative ion. Binary compounds should
end in ide.
e) For a Ternary compound, name the positive ion then the negative ion.
Examples:

Magnesium + Oxygen
Mg O ---- Mg+2 O -2 ------- MgO
Chemical name: Magnesium Oxide

Magnesium + Bromine
Mg Br ---- Mg+2 Br -1 ------- MgBr2

Chemical name: Magnesium bromide

Magnesium + Nitrogen
Mg +2 N-3 ---- Mg 3 N2----- Magnesium nitride

Barium + Nitrate
Ba +2 (NO3)-1 ---- Ba (NO3)2 ---- Barium nitrate
Ternary Compounds

Potassium + Bromate
K +1 (BrO3)-1 ------ K BrO3 ---- Potassium bromate

Magnesium + Chlorate
Mg +2 (ClO3)-1 ----- Mg(ClO3)2 ------ Magnesium chlorate

Magnesium + Sulfate
Mg +2 (SO4)-2 ----- MgSO4 ---------- Magnesium sulfate
 Naming Compounds
The name of the cation comes first followed by the name of the
anion, changing the name of the anion to end in –ide for
monotomic anions. For the names of polyatomic anions, they
are not altered.
KCl = potassium chloride
MgO = Magnesium oxide
K2S = potassium sulfide
AlCl3 = aluminum chloride
Mg3S2 = magnesium sulfide
BaBr2 = barium bromide
In those cases where the metal can form cations
of differing charges the positive charge is given
by a roman numeral in parentheses.
Albert Stock method
CuO = copper (II) oxide
Cu2O = copper (I) oxide
Cr2O3 = chromium (III) oxide
Fe2(SO4)3 = iron (III) sulfate
 Classical method

Write the root of the name for the first element followed by "ous"
for the lower of the two oxidation numbers or "ic" for the higher of
the two oxidation numbers.
For example:
Fe +2 --- Ferrous
FeSO4 = ferrous sulfate
Fe +3 --- Ferric
Fe2(SO4)3 = ferric sufate

because the two oxidation numbers for iron are +2 and +3.
How do you know which element goes first?

The element that comes first in the following list "goes" first (is less electronegative).
B, Si, C, Sb, As, P, N, H, Te, Se, S, I, Br, Cl, O, F

Some of the Greek prefixes are given below:

mono = 1 di = 2 tri = 3 tetra = 4
penta = 5 hexa = 6 hepta = 7 octa = 8
nona = 9 deca = 10
 Binary Molecular Compounds
When a pair of elements form more than one type of covalent
compound, Greek prefixes are used to indicate how many of each element
are in a compound. The more electronegative element is written last and its
ending is changed to –ide.
Examples:
N2O = dinitrogen monoxide
NO = nitrogen monoxide
N2O3 = dinitrogen trioxide
N2O5 = dinitrogen pentoxide
 Some additional rules

The prefix mono is never used for naming the first element of a compound.
The final "o" or "a" of a prefix is often dropped when the element begins with a vowel.
Examples:
CO = carbon monoxide ClO2 = chlorine dioxide

H2O, which according to the rules should be called dihydrogen monoxide is always called water

NH3, or nitrogen trihydride, is always called ammonia.

 ACID
A simplistic definition of an acid is a compound that
dissolves in water to release H+ ions. The most common acids
are those which result when we add enough H+ ions to an
oxyanion to balance its charge.

1.) When the anion ends in -ide, change the ending to -ic and add
the prefix hydro- to derive the name of the acid (binary acid).

Anion = chloride (Cl-) = hydrochloric acid (HCl)

Anion = bromide (Br-) = hydrobromic acid (HBr)
Anion = sulfide (S2-) = hydrosulfuric acid (H2S)
2) When the anion ends in -ate, change the ending to
-ic to derive the name of the acid.
Anion = chlorate (ClO3-) ---- chloric acid (HClO3)
Anion = sulfate (SO42-) ------ sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
Anion = nitrate (NO3-) ------- nitric acid (HNO3)

(3) When the anion ends in -ite, change the ending to

-ous to derive the name of the acid.
Anion = phosphite (PO33-)
Phosphorous acid (H3PO3)
Anion = chlorite (ClO2-)
Chlorous acid (HClO2)
Anion = hypochlorite (ClO-)
Hypochlorous acid (HClO)
 Oxyanions= are those polyatomic anions containing oxygen.

The ending -ate is used for the most common oxyanion of a given element.

NO3- = Nitrate ion

SO42- = Sulfate ion
CO32- = Carbonate ion
PO43- = Phosphate ion
ClO3- = Chlorate ion
(2) The ending -ite is used for the oxyanion with the same charge, but one less
oxygen than the -ate oxyanion.
NO2- = Nitrite ion
SO32- = Sulfite ion
PO33- = Phosphite ion
ClO2- = Chlorite ion
(3) The prefix per- is used if there is an oxyanion with the same charge but one
more oxygen than the -ate oxyanion, while the prefix hypo- is used if there is an
oxyanion with the same charge but one less oxygen than the -ite oxyanion.
ClO4- = percholorate ion
ClO3- = chlorate ion
ClO2- = chlorite ion
ClO- = hypochlorite ion
Try answering this:

If the given is the chemical formula write the name and vice versa.

1) Silver acetate 2) Oxalic acid

3) MgF2 4) Aluminum phosphate
5) Manganic oxide 6) Sn(ClO3)4
7) HC2H3O2 8) Calcium iodide
9) Sulfuric acid 10) HClO4
11) CCl4 11) CuSO4.5H2O
 What is the chemical formula for a banana?

For the answer? Next meeting, enjoy your day!

Please do study and be ready for a piece of paper by next meeting.