Nomenclature of the

inorganic compounds

Sergio Bocchini
sergio.bocchini@polito.it
Practice 1
1
 THE ELEMENTS

• Elements can exist as single atoms (He, Ne...) or molecules (H2, O2..)
• Elements of different types can combine with each other to produce compounds 2
 INORGANIC COMPOUND

Compound Name Brute Formula

(eg. Sodium oxide) (eg. Na2O)

sodium + oxigen → SODIUM OXIDE

4 Na + O2 → 2 Na2O

The formulae of inorganic compounds generally contain the elements in

order of increasing electronegativity
(leftmost and lowest ones on the periodic table first)

3
 ELECTRONEGATIVITY
Electronegativity (L. Pauling 1932) is the tendency of an element to attract electrons to itself
when it takes part in a chemical bond :
• It generally increases along a group from bottom to top and in a period from left to right
(excluding noble gases)
• Fluorine is more electronegative than all other elements, followed by oxygen
• Francium is the least electronegative element
• Hydrogen has an electronegativity value intermediate between metals and nonmetals
• Some exceptions in transition metals

4
 OXIDATION STATE

The oxidation state or oxidation number (o.n.) of an atom in a compound is

defined as the charge the atom would take on if the bonding electrons were
assigned entirely to the most electronegative atom (charge separation)

This is an "ideal" charge, but the closer it is to the real thing the more polarized the
bonds are (at the ionic limit)

For each element it can vary depending on the elements bound to it

5
 STATO
OXIDATION
DI OSSIDAZIONE
STATE

• In a neutral compound total of o.n. is = 0

• In an ion, the sum of the o.n. is equal to the charge of the ion

• Elements in the elemental state have o.n. = 0

6
 STATO
OXIDATION
DI OSSIDAZIONE
STATE
ALCALINE Metals (grup I A): +1 Li+, Na+, K+, …

ALCALINO-EARTH Metals (grup II A): +2 Mg2+, Ca2+, …

Grup III A e III B: +3 Al2O3, BH3, …

HYDROGEN: +1 with metals HCl, H2O, …

-1 with metals and borine LiH, AlH3, …

OXYGEN: -2 (Except for OF2 where it is +2) CaO, Fe2O3, …

-1 peroxides Na2O2, H2O2, …
-1/2 superoxide KO2, CsO2, …
ALOGENS: F -1
Cl, Br -1 +1, +3, +5, +7 HCl, Cl2O3, …
I -1 +1, +5, +7
Other main o.n.: Iron +2, +3 FeO, Fe2O3
Phosphorus +3, +5
Sulphur -2, +4, +6 H2S, SO2, SO3
Carbon +2, +4 CO , CO2
Copper +1, +2 Cu2O, CuO 7
 NOMENCLATURE

1. Common or Traditional nomenclature

Es. H2O → water

NH3 → ammonia

2. IUPAC nomenclature (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)

Es. H2O → dihydrogen monoxide

NH3 → trihydrogen nitride

3. Stock notation

Es. CuO → copper(II) oxide

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 OXIDE

Oxides are binary compounds formed by:

• metal + oxigen → basic oxide
Li2O
• nonmetal + oxigen → acid oxide or anhydride (traditional nomenclature)
N2O3
NOTE: some elements (Mn, Cr) give both basic oxides (low o.n.) and acid oxides (high o.n.) → amphoteric
behavior

Elements + Oxygen → Oxide

FORMULA is written as: first ELEMENT, then OXYGEN

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 OXIDE
OSSIDI
Traditional nomenclature
Metal oxide (basic oxide)

If the metal has only o. n.:

Metal name + oxide
CaO Calcium oxide

If the metal has more o.n.:

• Root of the Latin name + suffix –ous + oxide: lower o.n.
• Root of the Latin name + suffix –ic + oxide: higher o.n.

FeO Ferrous oxide (o.n. +2)

Fe2O3 Ferric oxide (o.n. +3)

Cu2O Cuprous oxide (o.n. +1)

CuO Cupric oxide (o.n. +2)

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 OXIDE
OSSIDI
Traditional nomenclature
Nonmetal Oxides (acidic oxides)
Latin root of nonmetal –ic + Anhydride
B2O3 Boric anhydride

If the element has more o.n.:

• suffix –ous: lower oxidation number
• suffix –ic: Higher oxidation number
SO2 sulphurous anhydride (o.n. +4)
SO3 sulphuric anhydride (o.n. +6)

If the element has several oxidation numbers :

(prefix) – latin root of the element –suffix + (Oxide or) anhydride
hypo-root-ous + anhydride Lower
root-ous + anhydride
root-ic + anhydride
per-root-ic + anhydride Higher

Cl2O hypochlorous anhydride (o.n. +1)

Cl2O3 chlorous anhydride (o.n. +3)
Cl2O5 chloric anhydride (o.n. +5) 11
Cl2O7 perchloric anhydride(o.n. +7)
 OXIDE
OSSIDI
Traditional nomenclature

Nitrogen oxides
N2O nitrous protoxide (o.n. +1)
NO nitrous oxide (o.n. +2)
N2O3 nitrous anhydride (o.n. +3)
NO2 nitrogen dioxide (o.n.+4) → Dimer: N2O4 hypoazotide
N2O5 nitric anhydride (o.n.+5)

Carbon oxides
CO carbon oxide (o.n. +2)
CO2 carbon anhydride (o.n. +4)

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 OXIDE
OSSIDI
Stock nomenclature
Name of the metal/nonmetal + (o.n. in roman number) oxide
FeO Iron (II) oxide Cu2O Copper (I) oxide
Fe2O3 Iron (III) oxide CuO Copper (II) oxide

IUPAC nomenclature
prefix- Name of the metal/nonmetal + prefix oxide
Prefix: number of atoms of that element in the formula

Na2O disodium monoxide

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 OXIDES

Formula Traditional name IUPAC Name Oxidation number

K2O
CO2
N2O3
SO3
FeO

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 OXIDES

Formula Traditional name IUPAC Name Oxidation number

K2O Potassium oxide Dipotassium monoxide +1 -2

CO2 Carbon anhydride Carbon dioxide +4 -2
N2O3 Nitrous anhydride Dinitrogen trioxide +3 -2
SO3 Sulphuric anhydride Sulphur trioxide +6 -2
FeO Ferrous oxide Iron monoxide +2 -2

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 PEROXIDES

Peroxides are binary compounds that contain two oxygen atoms joined together in the
peroxide group -O-O-.
In them, the oxidation number of the oxygen is always -1.

Traditional nomenclature
Name of the element + peroxide
(the element is usually low electronegative)

H2O2 hydrogen peroxide

Na2O2 sodium peroxide
BaO2 barium peroxide

Superoxides are oxides formed from positive ions (generally alkali metal ions) and
negative superoxide ions O2- (e.g. NaO2: sodium superoxide)
In them, the oxidation number of oxygen is always -1/2 (average between 0 and -1).

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HYDROXIDE and OXYACID
METALS
+ O2

BASIC OXIDE
+ H2O

HYDROXIDE (BASIC PROPERTIES)

NONMETALS
+ O2

(ANHYDRIDE) ACID OXIDE

+ H2O

OXOACIDS (ACIDIC PROPERTIES)

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 HYDROXIDE

Hydroxides are ternary compounds consisting of:

a metal + oxygen + hydrogen (OH group)

The formulas for hydroxides are written according to the general scheme:
metal (OH)o.n.
(o.n. = oxidation number of the metal; if it is 1, it should not be written and the parenthesis
should not be put)

• are of an ionic nature compounds formed from a metal and OH- ions (hydroxide ions,
with charge = o.n. = -1)
• are obtained by adding, at least formally, a molecule of water to a basic oxide: e.g. Na2O
+ H2O = 2NaOH
• generally have basic properties (NaOH for example is a strong base)

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 HYDROXIDE
Nomenclature: same nomenclature as for oxides by substituting hydroxide for oxide

Traditional nomenclature
Metal name + hydroxide
NaOH sodium hydroxide
Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide

If the metal can have several hydroxides:

Latin root suffix -ous: lowest oxidation number
Latin root suffix -ic: higher oxidation number
Fe(OH)2 ferrous hydroxide
Fe(OH)3 ferric hydroxide

IUPAC/Stock nomenclature
metal name + prefix + hydroxide / metal name(o.n. in Roman numerals) + hydroxide

NaOH sodium monohydroxide

Ca(OH)2 calcium dihydroxide
Fe(OH)2 iron dihydroxide /iron(II) hydroxide
Fe(OH)3 iron trihydroxide/iron(III) hydroxide 19
 Electrolyte dissociation of HYDROXIDES
• Hydroxides are electrolytes, i.e. they dissociate into ions when in aqueous solution;
hydroxides release OH- ions (anions) in solution

➢ Fe(OH)2 ( sol.) → Fe 2+ + 2 OH –

BASE CATION ANION

ion Fe (II) hydroxide ion
ferrous ion

➢ Cu(OH)2 (sol.) → Cu 2+ + 2 OH –

BASE CATION ANION

Cu (II) ion hydroxide ion
Cupric ion

• Alkali metals (o.n. +1) give rise to +1 charge cations (Na+, Li+, etc.)
• Alkaline earth metals (o,n. +2) give rise to +2 charge cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, etc.)

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 OXIACIDS or OXOACIDS

Oxoacids (or oxiacids) are ternary compounds consisting of:

hydrogen + a non-metal* + oxygen
* or a metal whose oxide has acidic properties, for example: Cr, Mn, V

The formulae of the oxiacids are written by putting them in the order
hydrogen-non-metal-oxygen

• are obtained by adding a molecule of water to an acid oxide: e.g.

SO3 + H2O → H2SO4

• it is possible to derive the o.n. of the non-metal in an oxyacid knowing that:

• the sum of the o.n.'s in a neutral molecule must equal zero.
• H has o.n. +1
• O has o.n. -2
eg. HClO3 (chloric acid) → H (+1 * 1 = +1); O (-2*3 = -6); (Cl ? =+5).

• The o.n. of the non-metal does not change from anhydride to the corresponding
oxyacid.
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 OXIACIDS or OXOACIDS
Traditional nomenclature

latin root of non-metal name + suffix –ic + acid

H3BO3 boric acid

If the non-metal has several oxidation numbers, the same prefixes/suffixes are used as
for the anhydride from which the oxiacids are derived:
hypo- prefix and -ous suffix + acid: the one with the lowest oxidation number
suffix -ous + acid: the one with the second lowest oxidation number
suffix -ic + acid: the one with the second highest oxidation number
per- prefix and -ic suffix + acid: the one with the highest oxidation number

HClO hypochlorous acid (o.n. +1)

HClO2 chlorous acid (o.n. +3)
HClO3 chloroic acid (o.n. +5)
HClO4 perchloric acid (o.n. +7)
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 OXIACIDS or OXOACIDS
Traditional nomenclature
Meta, pyro and ortho acids
• some oxyacids can have a different degree of hydration (i.e. result from the addition
of a different number of water molecules)
• the prefixes meta (addition of 1 molecule of water), pyro (addition of 2 molecules of
water) and ortho (addition of the maximum number of water molecules, usually 3)
are used to distinguish them
P2O5 phosphoric anhydride
P2O5 + H2O → H2P2O6 → 2HPO3 metaphosphoric acid HPO3
P2O5 + 2H2O → H4P2O7 pyrophosphoric acid H4P2O7
P2O5 + 3H2O → H6P2O8 → 2H3PO4 orthophosphoric acid H3PO4

• the prefixes ortho and meta are only authorised for the following oxides: orthoboric
acid (H3BO3), orthosilicic acid (H4SiO4), orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4), orthoperiodic
acid* (H5IO6); metaboric acid (HBO2), metasilic acid (H2SiO3), metaphosphoric acid
(HPO3)
• the prefix pyro is only permitted for pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7)
*: I2O7 + 5H2O → H10I2O12 → 2H5IO6 23
 OXIACIDS or OXOACIDS
IUPAC nomenclature
There are two alternatives:
• using the word 'acid':
prefix (non-mono-) + oxo + Latin root of the non-metal + suffix -ico
+ (o.n. of the non-metal in Roman numerals) + acid

H2CO3 trioxocarbonic (IV) acid

• using the name of the anion

prefix (non-mono-) Hydrogen prefix + oxo + anion name

H2CO3 dihydrogen trioxocarbonate (IV)

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 Electrolyte dissociation of OXOACIDS
• All acids (oxyacids, hydracids, organic acids) are electrolytes, i.e. they dissociate into
ions when in solution; acids release H+ ions (protons) in solution

• once the H+ ions have been removed from the acid molecule, a negative ion (anion)
consisting of several atoms (polyatomic ion) remains, which has a negative charge
equal to the number of H+ removed. Nomenclature: I keep the name of the acid by
changing the suffix:
-OUS → -ITE
-IC → -ATE

from carbonic acid H2CO3 comes the carbonate ion CO32-

from nitric acid HNO3 comes the nitrate ion NO3-

Monoprotic, diprotic and tripotic acids

• Acids are subdivided according to the number of hydrogen atoms they possess, thus
according to the number of H+ ions (protons) they can release:
HClO: monoprotic acid
H2SO4: diprotic acid
H3PO4: triprotic acid 25
 HYDROXIDE AND OXYACIDS

Formula Traditional name IUPAC name

Cr(OH)3

HClO

H2CO3

KOH

H2SO4

HPO3

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 HYDROXIDE AND OXYACIDS

Formula Traditional name IUPAC name

Cr(OH)3 Chromium hydroxide Chromium trihydroxide

Oxocloric (I) acid
HClO Hypochlorous Acid
Hydrogen monoxychloride (I)
Trioxocarbonic acid (IV)
H2CO3 Carbonic acid
Dihydrogen trioxycarbonate (IV)
KOH Potassium hydroxide Potassium monohydroxide
Tetraoxosulphuric acid (VI)
H2SO4 Sulphuric acid
Dihydrogen tetrooxosulphate (VI)
Trioxophosphoric acid (V)
HPO3 Metaphosphoric acid
Trioxophosphate (V) of hydrogen

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 BINARY HYDROGEN compounds

HYDRIDES are binary compounds consisting of:

• a metal + hydrogen → metallic or saline hydride
• a non-metal (up to group VI) + hydrogen → covalent hydride (non-
metal)

in the hydride formula the hydrogen is written to the right of the

metal/non-metal (although some non-metals are more electronegative,
e.g. NH3)

HYDRACIDS are binary compounds consisting of:

• Sulphur (group VI) or a group VII element + hydrogen

in the formula of hydracids, hydrogen is written to the left of the non-

metal, of which it is less electronegative
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 HYDRIDES

Metallic HYDRIDES
• Compounds in which hydrogen is present as a hydride ion (H-) and with o.n. -1
• formed from hydrogen + metallic elements (particularly of groups IA and IIA)
• have distinctly ionic characteristics, with the exception of the hydrides of Li
and Be
• their general formula is: metal Ho.n. (o.n. = oxidation number of the metal)

Traditional nomenclature
Metal name + hydride
NaH sodium hydride
CaH2 calcium hydride
FeH2 Ferrous hydride
FeH3 Ferric hydride

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 HYDRIDES
Traditional nomenclature
Covalent hydride
• consist of hydrogen + non-metals (up to group VI)
• are molecular in nature
• the traditional names are still in use and do not include the term 'hydride':
CH4 methane
SiH4 silane
BH3 borane
NH3 ammonia
PH3 Phosphine

The most widespread of the hydrogen-containing binary compounds,

water, is not classified among hydrides (nor among hydracids).
IUPAC nomenclature
prefix- + name of metal/non-metal prefix- (not mono-) + hydride
LiH Lithium hydride
CaH2 Calcium dihydride
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CH4 Carbon tetrahydride
 HYDRIDE

Formula Traditional name IUPAC Name Oxidation number

NaH
NH3
AlH3

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 HYDRIDE

Formula Traditional name IUPAC Name Oxidation number

NaH Sodium hydride Sodium hydride +1 -1

NH3 Ammonia Nitrogen Trihydride -3 +1
AlH3 Alluminium hydride Alluminium Trihydride +3 -1

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 HYDRACID

Hydracids are binary compounds consisting of:

hydrogen + a non-metal (a halogen or sulphur)

• have acidic properties

• o.n. of hydrogen = +1 (H+)
• halogens (F, Cl, Br, I) have in this case o.n. -1

• In aqueous solution they dissociate, releasing protons H+

• H2S hydrogen sulphide (in solution) → 2 H+ + S2- (sulphide anion) (o.n. of S = -2; in
oxoacids S has o.n. +1,+3,+5,+7) Charge of the anion = o.n. = -2 → 2 H+ protons
liberated

• HCN hydrogen cyanide (in solution) → H+ + CN- (cyanide anion) It is the only hydracid
consisting of three elements; the CN- group behaves as a single entity

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 HYDRACID
IDRACIDI

Traditional nomenclature

Latin root of the non-metal name + Suffix –hidric acid

HF Fluorhidric acid
HCl Chlorhidric acid (or muriatic acid)
H2S acido sulphidric acid

HCN Cianhidric acid (non binary acid)

IUPAC nomenclature
prefix- (non mono-) + hydrogen Latin root of nonmetal + suffix –ide +
HCl hydrogen chloride
H2S dihydrogen sulphide
HCN hydrogen cianide

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 SALTS
Neutralisation reaction: acid + base → salt
compound with metal + compound with non-metal
Basic oxide, hydroxide anhydride, acid or the
or metal nonmetal

AOH + HB → AB + H2O
Base Acid Salt water

Example:

Fe(OH)2+ H2SO4 → FeSO4 + 2 H2O

In order to write the formula for the salt formed, one must consider the respective
dissociations:
Fe2+ + 2OH- ferrous ion; ion Fe (II)
2H+ + SO42- Sulphate ion

cation 2+ and anion 2- → ratio 1:1 → FeSO4

35
 BINARY SALTS

Binary salts (salts of hydracids) are binary compounds consisting of:

a metal (cation) + a non-metal (anion)

• hydracids split in water to form H+ hydrogen ions and a negative ion (anion) whose
charge depends on the number of hydrogen ions released (and is equal to the number
of hydrogen atoms in the initial molecule)
• the oxidation number of the anion (needed to write the salt formula) is equal to its
charge
Hydracid In water o.n. Anion Anion name
HCl H+ + Cl- -1 Chloride
H2S 2H+ + S2- -2 Sulphide
HCN H+ + CN- -1 Cianide

• the formula for binary salts is obtained by substituting hydrogen for metal from the
acid, respecting the neutrality of the final compound e.g. CaCl2
36
 BINARY SALTS
Traditional nomenclature
name of metal + Latin root of non-metal + suffix -ide
CaCl2 Calcium chloride
MgS Magnesium sulphide

If the metal can form several salts from the same hydracid,
the same rules are used as for oxides:
• name of metal + Latin root of non-metal + suffix –ous: lower o.n.
• name of metal + Latin root of non-metal + suffix –ic: higher o.n.

FeCl2 Ferrous chloride (o.n. +2) CuCl cuprous chloride (o.n. +1)
FeCl3 Ferric chloride (o.n. +3) CuCl2 cupric chloride (o.n. +2)

IUPAC nomenclature
prefix- (not-mono-) + metal name + prefix- + non-metal Latin root + suffix -ide
CaCl2 calcium dichloride
MgS magnesium monosulphide
CuCl copper monochloride
CuCl2 copper dicloride
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 HYDRACIDS and BINARY SALTS

Formula Traditional name IUPAC name Oxidation number

HI
HCN
FeCl2
HF
Al2S3

38
 HYDRACIDS and BINARY SALTS

Formula Traditional name IUPAC name Oxidation number

HI Iodidric acid Hydrogen Iodide +1 -1

HCN Cianidric acid Hydrogen Cianide +1 -1
FeCl2 Ferrous chloride Iron dichloride +2 -1
HF Fluoridric acid Hydrogen Fluride +1 -1
Al2S3 Aluminion sulphide Dialuminion trisulphide +3 -2

39
 TERNARY SALTS

Ternary salts are ternary compounds consisting of:

a metal + a non-metal + oxygen

• are ionic compounds

• result from the reaction between a hydroxide and a ternary acid (oxyacid): e.g. 2NaOH
+ H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O
• the rule of neutrality of the molecule always applies: the positive charges lost by the
acid in the form of H+ must be compensated for by the positive charges of the metal
H2SO4 → SO42- + 2H+ two charges are lost +
NaOH → Na+ + OH- Na owns only 1 charge +
for this reason, salt contains 2 sodium atoms
Na2SO4

40
 TERNARY SALTS
Traditional nomenclature
metal name + anion name + suffix –ate
CaCO3 calcium carbonate
If the non-metal has several oxidation numbers, the same prefixes/suffixes are used as
for the ternary acids (and polyatomic anions) from which the salts are derived:
• hypo- prefix and -ite suffix: the one with the lowest oxidation number
• suffix -ite: that with the second lowest oxidation number
• suffix -ide: that with the second highest oxidation number
• prefix per- and suffix -ide: that with the highest oxidation number
KClO potassium hypochlorite (o.n. +1)
KClO2 potassium chlorite (o.n. +3)
KClO3 potassium chloride (o.n. +5)
KClO4 potassium perchloride (o.n. +7)

IUPAC nomenclature
prefix- (not mono-) + metal name + anion name
CaCO3 Calcium trioxocarbonate
NaClO Sodium monooxoclorate
Na2SO4 Disodium tetraoxosulphate 41
 ACID SALTS
• acid salts derive from polyprotic acids, when of the two or more hydrogens
present, the metal replaces only one (or even two in triprotics), one or more
hydrogen atoms remaining in the salt molecule
• E.g. H2CO3 exchange only one proton:
NaOH + H2CO3 → NaHCO3 + H2O
• For both traditional and IUPAC nomenclature, the same nomenclature rules apply
as for ternary salts (and thus polyatomic anions), with the additional rules that
follow:
Tradizionale nomenclature
The prefix bi- is used for the acid salts of diprotic acids.
NaHCO3 sodium bicarbonate
Or generally the term acid, prefixed with (mono-), di-
NaHCO3 sodium acid carbonate
KH2PO4 potassium diacid Phosphate

IUPAC nomenclature
The number of hydrogens present is indicated
NaHCO3 sodium hydrogendioxocarbonate
KH2PO4 potassium dihydrogenotrioxoposphate 42
 SALTS

❑BASIC SALTS
Derived from hydroxides with at least two OH-
groups

Example: Bi(OH)3 + HCl →

• BiCl3 bismuth chloride
• Bi(OH)Cl2 basic bismuth chloride
• Bi(OH)2Cl dibasic bismuth chloride
❑DOUBLE SALTS
Derived from an ANION E 2 different CATIONS

Example: KAl(SO4)2 (double) potassium and aluminium solfate

❑HYDRATED SALTS
When n molecules of water are associated with salt

E.g.: MgCl2●nH2O Magnesium chloride mono/di/ tri/tetra/penta/esahydrate 43

 CATIONIC and ANIONIC SPECIES
• cations formed from only one metal:
metal name + ion
Ca2+ Calcium ion

• polyatomic cations containing hydrogen and a non-metal (they are ideally derived
from hydracids or hydrides + H+):
non metal latin root + –onium ion
H3O+ ione oxonium ion NH4+ ammonium ion
(hydronium ion, ion hydroxonium H3Se+ ione selenonium ion
ion, hydrogen ion) H2F+ fluoronium ion
AsH4+ arsonium ion H2Cl+ chloronium ion
H3S+ solphonium ion H2Br+ bromonium ion
PH4+ phosphonium ion H2I+ Iodonium ion
SbH4+ stybonium ion

• Among other polyatomic cations, the most common are:

PO+ phosphoryl ion
CO+ carbonyl ion
NO+ nitrosyl ion
• anions monoatomic e omopolyatomic:
latin root of the element + –ide ion
Cl- chloride ion
S22- disulphide ion 44
 POLYATOMICAL ANIONS derived from oxyacids
Traditional nomenclature
We start with the name of the acid from which the polyatomic anion is derived, remove the
word acid and replace the suffix: -ic becomes -ate; -ous becomes -ite
CO32- 2-, thus 2 proton H+ → H2CO3: carbonic acid → carbonate
ClO- 1-, thus 1 proton H+ → HClO: hypochlorous acid → hypochlorite
(prefix hypo- and per- are preserved)

In the case of diprotics that yield only one H+ or triprotics that yield two H+, the prefix bi- is
added.
HCO3- bicarbonate

In the case of triprotics that yield two H+ biacid is added

H2PO4- phosphate biacid

IUPAC nomenclature
prefix- + oxo + name of non-metal + -ate + (o.n. of non-metal)
CO32- trioxocarbonate (IV)

In the case of diprotics that yield only one H+ :

Hydrogen + prefix- + oxo + name of non-metal + -ate + (o.n. non-metal)
HCO3- hydrogentrioxocarbonate (IV) 45
POLYATOMICAL ANIONS and TERNARY SALTS

Formula Traditional name Nome IUPAC

ClO2-
P2O74-
KClO4
Na2SO3
Fe2(CO3)3

46
POLYATOMICAL ANIONS and TERNARY SALTS

Formula Traditional name Nome IUPAC

ClO2- Chlorite Dioxochlorate

P2O74- Pirophosphate Eptaoxodiphosphate
KClO4 Potassium perchlorate Potassium tetraoxochlorate (VII)
Na2SO3 Sodium Sulphite Disodium trioxosolphate (IV)
Fe2(CO3)3 Ferric carbonate Diiron Trioxocarbonate (IV)

47
 From compound names to formulas
IUPAC nomenclature
The number of atoms (with prefixes) is indicated in the name:
• Oxide → formula element – oxygen:
Diiron trioxide Fe2O3
• Hydride → formula element – hydrogen :
Aluminium trihydride AlH3
• Hydracids → formula hydrogen – non metal:
Dihydrogen sulphide H2S
• Binary salts → formula metal – non metal:
Dialuminium trisulphide Al2S3
• Hydroxide → formula metal – hydroxide ion:
Calcium dihydroxide Ca(OH)2
• Oxoacids → formula is hydrogen – non metal – oxygen:
trihydrogen tetraoxophosphate (V) H3PO4
tetraoxophosphoric acid (V) → one must calculate the number of atoms of H
remembering that the molecule must be neutral:
4 x O + 1 x P → 4 x (-2) + 1 x (+5) = -3 → 3 atoms of H → H3PO4
• Ternary salts → formula metal – non metal – oxygen:
Lithium tetraoxochlorate (VII) LiClO4
48
Tricalcium ditetraoxophosphate (V) Ca3(PO4)2
 From compound names to formulas
Traditional nomenclature
Never forget the neutrality of compounds (except, of course, if it is an ion):

• Basic oxide → formula is metal – oxygen

To derive the formula, we need to know the oxidation number of the metal (o.n. O = -2) and
apply the crossover rule
Aluminium oxide

Al2O3

If the name of metal end for: –ic → o.n. higher

–oso → o.n. lower
Ferric oxide Fe con o.n. higher (+3) Fe2O3
Ferrous oxde Fe con o.n. lower (+2) FeO

49
 From compound names to formulas
Traditional nomenclature
• Acid oxide → formula non metal – oxygen
If the non-metal has only one o.n.: suffix -ic. To derive the formula, the crossover rule also
applies in this case
Boric anhydride B only o.n.=+3 B2O3
If the metal has two o.n.: –ic → o.n. higher
–ous → o.n. lower
Posphoric anhydride P con o.n. higher (+5) P2O5
Posphorous anhydride P con o.n. lower (+3) P2O3
If the metal has four o.n.: per– … –ic → o.n. higer
–ic
–ous
ipo– … –ous → o.n. lower
Perchloric anhydride Cl con o.n. = +7 Cl2O7
chloric anhydride Cl con o.n. = +5 Cl2O5
chlorous anhydride Cl con o.n. = +3 Cl2O3
hypochlorous anhydride Cl con o.n. = +1 Cl2O
Learn special case nitrogen oxide:
N2O nitrogen protoxide (o.n. +1)
NO nitrogen oxide (o.n. +2)
N2O3 nitrous anhydride (o.n. +3)
NO2 nitrogen dioxide (o.n.+4)
N2O5 Nitric anhydride (o.n. +5) 50
 From compound names to formulas
Traditional nomenclature
• hydrides → formula metal – hydrogeno.n. metal
If the metal has only 1 o.n.: metal hydride
Lithium hydride LiH
If the metal has two o.n.: –ic → o.n. higher
–ous → o.n. lower
Ferric hydride Fe con o.n. higher (+3) FeH3
Ferrous hydride Fe con o.n. lower (+2) FeH2
For the covalent hydride, formed from C, Si, N e P, the traditional name has no rules → it
should be learned:
methane CH4
silane SiH4
ammonia NH3
phosphine PH3
• hydracids → formula hydrogen – non metal regognised from –idric after the name of
non-metal
Chloridric acid HCl
Bromidic acid HBr
Fluodidric acid HF
Iodidric acid HI
Cyanidric acid HCN
Sulphidric acid H2S 51
(the only one with two hydrogen atoms in the formula)
 From compound names to formulas
Traditional nomenclature

• Binary salts → formula metal – non metal

In the name, the metal is put first (with the suffixes -ous and -ic if there is more than one
o.n.) and then the non metal (with the suffix -ide). To derive the formula, the crossover rule
applies, considering that the o.n. of the non-metal is -1 for halogens (F, Cl, Br, I) and
cyanides (CN) and -2 for Sulphur
Sodium chloride o.n. Na = +1; o.n. Cl = -1 NaCl
Ferric sulfide Fe with higher o.n. (+3); o.n. S = -2 Fe2S3
Ferrous sulfide Fe with lower o.n. (+2); o.n. S = -2 FeS

• hydroxide → formula metal – (hydroxide ion)o.n. metal

If the metal has two o.n. : –ic → o.n. higher
–ous → o.n. lower
Potassium hydroxide o.n. K = +1 KOH
Cupric hydroxide Cu o.n. higher (+2) Cu(OH)2
Cuprous hydroxide Cu o.n. lower (+1) CuOH

52
 From compound names to formulas
Traditional nomenclature

• oxiacids → formula hydrogen – non metal – oxygen

The simplest method to derive the formula is to start with the anhydride from which the
acid is derived and to add a molecule of water.
Carbonic acid comes from carbon dioxide CO2
CO2 + H2O → H?C?O? H2CO3
nitrous acid is derived from nitrous anhydride N2O3
N2O3 + H2O → H?N?O? H2N2O4 HNO2
pyrophosphoric acid is derived from phosphoric anhydride P2O5
to which 2 molecules of water have been added
P2O5 + 2 H2O → H4P2O7
NB: meta = 1 water molecule
pyro = 2 water molecules
orto = 3 water molecules

53
 From compound names to formulas
Traditional nomenclature

• Ternary salts → formula metal – non metal – oxygen

Ternary salts are derived from the oxides by substituting hydrogen for metal; the
correspondence between the name of the acid and that of the salt is:
–ic became –ate → o.n. higher
–ous becames –ito → o.n. lower
any prefixes (hypo- or per-, ortho-, pyro- or meta-) remain the same.
The formula can be constructed in four stages:
1. recognise the acid from which it derives : salt –ate → from acid –ic
sale –ite → from acid –ous
Calcium carbonate: from carbonic acid H2CO3
2. remove the hydrogens, marking as many charges - as H were removed
H2CO3 → CO32-
3. put metal instead of hydrogen, to the left of the non-metal residue + oxygen
Calcium carbonate → Ca?(CO3)?
4. enter the number of atoms to respect the neutrality of the compound (crossover rule)

Calcium carbonate o.n. Ca = +2; o.n. CO3 = -2 CaCO3

54
Exercises

55
1. A basic oxide is a compound formed from

A Hydrogen + metal
B Hydrogen + non metal
C Oxygen + metal
D Oxygen + non metal

2. Anhydride is a traditional name for:

A A basic oxide
B A acid oxide
C An hydride
D An hydracid

3. An hydroxide is a compound formed by:

A Hydrogen + oxygen
B Metal + non metal
C Hydrogen + oxygen + metal
D Hydrogen + oxigen + non metal 56
4. Salts are obtained from an acid by substitution of hydrogen with:

A A metal
B A non metal
C Oxygen
D Hydroxyl group

5. The molecule of perchloric anhydride consists of:

A 2 atoms of chlorine and 7 atoms of oxygen

B 2 atoms of chlorine and 5 atoms of oxygen
C 2 atoms of chlorine and 3 atoms of oxygen
D 2 atoms of chlorine and 1 atoms of oxygen

6. Hydrogen sulphide and sulphuric acid are:

A Both binary acids

B Both ternary acids
C Sulphide acid is ternary while sulphuric acid is binary
D Sulphide acid is binary while sulphuric acid is ternary 57
➢ Form the oxyacids from the following anhydrides and give them their
traditional names:

Br2O →

SO2 →

I2O7 →

SO3 →

58
➢ Write the formulas of the following compounds and indicate the oxidation state
of the elements:

o Hypochlorous acid

o Potassium permanganate

o Nitric acid

o Chloric acid

o Sodium nitrite

o Sodium hypochlorite

o Aluminium nitrate

o Sodium acid carbonate

o Chromic anhydride

o Dimanganese trioxide
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 Main Oxidation Number
• Main oxidation states of the main elements

60