Laboratory Exercise 1

IUPAC NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Introduction

As chemistry students, you must have mastery in writing and naming of formulas of elements and
compounds. To be able to write correct formulas of compounds needs a mastery of the symbols of the
elements, the knowledge of the ratio of combination of different elements composing the compounds, and
the names and formulas of cations and anions.

The systematic nomenclature of inorganic compounds is based on the guidelines formulated by the
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). According to the IUPAC, the chemical
nomenclature’s primary aim is to provide methodology for assigning names and formulas to chemical
species for unambiguous identification. Three systems of inorganic nomenclature are used:
compositional, substitutive and additive.

Compositional nomenclature uses names which are based solely on the composition of the substance or
species being named. One generalized compositional nomenclature is based on stoichiometric name.
Substitutive nomenclature is used for organic compounds which are derived from hydrides modified by
substitution of hydrogen atoms by atoms and/or groups. Additive nomenclature is used for compounds or
species with central atom or central atoms associated with ligands. In general chemistry, the
compositional nomenclature is usually used.

Objectives

At the end of this exercise you should be able to:

1. memorize the names and symbols of elements;
2. use subscripts and superscripts properly in writing symbols/formulas of elements and ions;
3. memorize the names and formulas of common cations and anions;
4. write the formulas of binary compounds formed by combination of common cations and anions
and name the compounds using IUPAC allowed or recommended names;
5. write the formulas of ternary compounds formed by combination of common cations and anions
and name the compounds using IUPAC allowed or recommended names; and
6. write the name and formulas of ternary acids, bases and salts.

Materials

The following materials are needed in this exercise: ballpens and papers.

Procedure

1. Read and understand carefully the NOMENCLATURE OF ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS.

If there is something you do not understand, ask your instructor for clarifications of all your
questions.
2. Practice writing formulas of compounds formed from cations and anions.
3. Complete the Formula Writing Exercise next page and submit to your instructor as your Group
Data Sheet.

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 Formula Writing and Naming Exercise

Complete the following table by writing the name if the formula is given or the formula if the name is
given. Use the name for acid or base if the given formula is an acid or a base.

FORMULA NAME FORMULA NAME

HClO Al(OH)3

Barium carbonate Perchloric acid

K2C2O4 FeBr2

Mercurous nitride Ammonium sulfate

NaHCO3 H3PO4

Ferric ferrocyanide Lead (IV) acetate

K3Fe(CN)6 H3AlO3

Zincic acid Calcium dichromate

Pb(CO3)2 Sn3(AsO4)4

Dialuminum tetraoxide Trihydrogenphosphate

Na2CrO4 (NH4)3PO3

Aluminum nitride Antimony(III)acetate

CrN H2O2

Mercurous chloride Cuprous oxide

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 NOMENCLATURE OF ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS

Names and Symbols of the Elements

Elements are substances represented by chemical symbols. The chemical symbols of the elements come
from the names of the elements themselves. For example:
H (hydrogen) He (helium) S (sulfur)
C (carbon) Ca (calcium) I (iodine)

Some symbols come from the names of the elements in other languages. For example:
Au (aurum) Ag (argentum) Na (natrium)
K (kalium) Cu (cuprum) Pb (plumbum)

For newly discovered elements for which permanent names have not yet been assigned, the following
scheme is used by the IUPAC and the name of the element is derived from its atomic number using the
following numerical roots and the ending ium:
0 = nil 1 = un 2 = bi 3 = tri 4 = quad
5 = pent 6 = hex 7 = sept 8 = oct 9 = enn

The final n of ‘enn” is dropped when it occurs before “nil” and the final I of “bi” and “tri” are dropped
when they occur before “ium”. For example, element with atomic number of 113 has a name of
ununtrium (symbol Uut) and element 120 is unbinilium (symbol Ubn). But element 122 is unbibium
(symbol Ubb) and element 129 is unbiennium (symbol Ube). You need to have a copy of the Periodic
table in order to know all the names and symbols of the elements and you must memorize them.

For diatomic and polyatomic molecules, the number of the atoms is indicated by multiplicative prefixes
tabulated in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Multiplicative prefixes recommended by the IUPAC for nomenclature of inorganic compounds
1 mono 8 octa 15 pentadeca
2 di 9 nona 16 hexadeca
3 tri 10 deca 17 heptadeca
4 tetra 11 undeca 18 octadeca
5 penta 12 dodeca 19 nonadeca
6 hexa 13 trideca 20 icosa
7 hepta 14 tetradeca 21 henicosa

Table 1.2 Some examples of the recommended IUPAC names for polyatomic molecules
Formula Old Name* IUPAC Recommended Name
H2 Hydrogen Dihydrogen
O2 Oxygen Dioxygeb
N2 Nitrogen Dinitrogen
F2 Fluorine Difluorine
I2 Iodine Diiodine
Cl2 Chlorine Dichlorine
Br2 Bromine Dibromine
P4 Phosphorus Tetraphosphorus
S8 Sulfur Octasulfur
*Note that the old names used for diatomic and polyatomic molecules are no longer recommended by the
IUPAC since 2005. However, most chemistry books still use the old names

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Table 1.3 Some examples of names of compounds recommended IUPAC
Formula Old Name IUPAC Recommended Name
AlCl3 Aluminum chloride Aluminum trichloride,
Aluminum(III) chloride
Cr2O3 Chromic oxide Dichromium trioxide,
Chromium(III) oxide
HNO3 Nitric acid Nitric acid,
[NO2(OH)] Hydroxidodioxidonitrogen
H2S Hydrogen sulfide Dihydrogen sulfide

The use of superscripts and subscripts are clearly defined by the IUPAC as follows:
Left superscript = mass number of the element
Left subscript = atomic number of the element
Right superscript = charge or oxidation state of the ion

For example,
4
2 He 23
11 Na Ba2+ Al3+
+ -
In case the charge is 1+ or 1-, the numeral 1 is omitted, as in H , or Cl

Formation of Ions

Elements are converted to ions when they lose or gain electrons. The resulting number of electrons lost or
gained depends on the kind of atoms. The resulting charge or oxidation number of the ion also depends on
the number of electrons lost or gained.

When electrons are lost, the element undergoes oxidation and the charge or oxidation state on the
resulting cation is positive and the value of the charge corresponds to the number of electrons lost. For
example:
Na – 1e  Na+ Al – 3e  Al3+ Ca – 2e  Ca2+

When electrons are gained, the element undergoes reduction. The charge or oxidation state on the
resulting anion is negative and the value of the charge again depends on the number of electrons gained.
For example:
Cl + 1e  Cl- O + 2e  O2- P + 3e  P3-

The names of the ions differ slightly from the name of the original atoms. Cations have the same names as
the original atom except that the word ion follows the atom name. An alternative nomenclature of cations
is by using the atom name followed by the charge or oxidation state written in Roman numeral in
parenthesis. Examples:
Na+ sodium ion, sodium (1+) or sodium (I)
Ca2+ calcium ion, calcium (2+) or calcium (III)
Al3+ aluminum ion, aluminum (3+) or aluminum (III)
H+ hydrogen ion, hydrogen (1+) or hydrogen (I)

Anions on the other hand have names derived from the root word of the atom name followed by ide.
Examples:
Cl- chloride
O2- oxide
S2- sulfide
N3- nitride

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When two or more cations are formed from a single atom, the names of the cations differ based on the
endings. Examples:
Cu+ cuprous ion or copper (I) Cu2+ cupric or copper (II)
2+
Fe ferrous ion or iron (II) Fe3+ ferric ion or iron (III)
2+ 4+
PB plumbous ion or Pb (II) Pb plumbic ion or Pb (IV)
Sn2+ stannous ion or Sn (II) Sn4+ stannic ion or Sn (IV)

The common cations are tabulated in Table 2.1 and the common anions are tabulated in table 2.2. Some
names as tabulated in these two tables are no longer recommended but are still allowed for use by
IUPAC.

Table 2.1 Formulas and names of common cations classified based on oxidation states
Oxidation State Formula Name of Cation
+
1+ Cu Cuprous, Copper (I)
H+ Hydrogen
K+ Potassium
Na+ Sodium
+
Ag Silver
NH4+ Ammonium
Hg2+ Mercurous, Dimercury (I)
2+
2+ Ba Barium, Barium (II)
Cd2+ Cadmium, Cadmium (II)
Ca2+ Calcium, Calcium (II)
Cr2+ Chromous, Chromium (II)
2+
Co Cobaltous, Cobalt (II)
Cu2+ Cupric, Copper (II)
Fe2+ Ferrous, Iron (II)
2+
Pb Plumbous, Lead (II)
Mg2+ Magnesium, Magnesium (II)
Mn2+ Manganese, Manganese (II)
Hg2+ Mercuric, Mercury (II)
2+
Ni Nickel, Nickel (II)
Sr2+ Strontium, Strontium (II)
Sn2+ Stannous, Tin (II)
2+
Zn Zinc, Zinc (II)
3+ Al3+ Aluminum, Aluminum (III)
Sb3+ Antimony, Antimony (III)
As3+ Arsenic, Arsenic (III)
3+
Bi Bismuth, Bismuth (III)
Cr3+ Chronic, Chromium (III)
Co3+ Cobaltic, Cobalt (III)
3+
Fe Ferric, Iron (III)
4+ Pb4+ Plumbic, Lead (IV)
Sn4+ Stannic, Tin (IV)
5+ Sb5+ Antimony, Antimony (V)
5+
As Arsenic, Arsenic (V)

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Table 2.2 Formulas and names of common anions classified based on oxidation states
Oxidation State Formula Name of Anion
-
1- CH3COO Acetate
HCO3- Bicarbonate
HSO4- Bisulfate
HSO3- Bisulfite
-
MnO4 Permanganate
ClO3- Chlorate
ClO2- Chlorite
-
ClO Hypochlorite
F- Fluoride
Cl- Chloride
Br- Bromide
-
I Iodide
H- Hydride
OH- Hydroxide
-
O2 Peroxide
H2PO4- Dihydrogen phosphate
2- HPO42- Biphosphate, Monohydrogen phosphate
CO32- Carbonate
2-
CrO4 Chromate
Cr2O72- Dichromate
C2O42- Oxalate
2-
O Oxide
SiO32- Silicate
SO42- Sulfate
S2- Sulfide
2-
SO3 Sulfite
S2O32- Thiosulfate
ZnO22- Zincate
3-
3- AlO3 Aluminate
AsO33- Arsenite
AsO43- Arsenate
N3- Nitride
3-
PO4 Phosphate
PO33- Phosphite
[Fe(CN)6]3- Ferricyanide
4-
4- [Fe(CN)6] Ferrocyanide

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 Writing Formulas of Inorganic Compounds

Before you can write formula of any compound, you must memorize first the names and formulas of the
cations and anions as tabulated in Tables 1.1 and 1.2.

When writing formulas of inorganic compounds, remember the following:

1. The cation is written first, followed by the anion.
2. The sum of the oxidation numbers of the cation and the anion must add up to zero
a) If the oxidation numbers are numerically equal in value (disregard the sign), combine the
cation and the anion to make the formula.
Examples: Na+ and Cl- will form NaCl.
Ca2+ and O2- will form CaO.
H22+ and S2- will form Hg2S.
b) When the oxidation numbers are not numerically equal (disregard the sign), and are not
multiples of each other, use the “criss-cross” method, that is, the oxidation number of the
cation becomes the subscript of the anion and the oxidation number of the anion becomes the
subscript of the cation. There is no need to write the subscript if it is 1.
Examples: Al3+ and O2- will form Al2O3.
Ca2+ and N3- will form Ca3N2.
P3+ and Cl1- will form PCl3.
c) When the oxidation numbers are not numerically equal (disregard the sign) but are multiples
of each other, multiply the smaller oxidation number by a whole number so that the product
equals numerically to the larger oxidation number. Use the whole number as the subscript of
the ion with the smaller oxidation number.
Examples: Pb4+ and SO42-. The oxidation number of SO42- is multiplied by 2 to equal the
oxidation number of Pb4+. Thus, the formula of the compound formed is
Pb(SO4)2.
Ca2+ and Fe(CN6)4-. The oxidation number of Ga2+ is multiplied by 2 to equal
numerically to the oxidation number of Fe(CN)64-. The formula of the compound
is Ca2Fe(CN)6.
3. When the ions consist of more than one atom, enclose the ions with parentheses when the
subscript is greater than 1.
Examples: Al3+ and SO42-: Al2(SO4)3
Hg22+ and PO43-: (Hg2)3(PO4)2
4. When the formula of the ions contains parenthesis already, brackets are uased.
Examples: Fe3+ and Fe(CN)64-: Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3
Fe2+ and Fe(CN)63-: Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2

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 Nomenclature of Inorganic Compounds

Since writing the formula, the cation is written first followed by the anion, naming of a formula involves
naming the cation first followed by the anion.

There are two ways of naming chemical formulas of compounds:

1. Common Names. These names have no systematic connection with the formulas and are derived
from their physical appearance, properties, origin or application. The only way of knowing is to
memorize them.
Examples: H2O water NH3 ammonia
HCl muriatic acid NaOH caustic soda (lye)
NaHCO3 baking soda CaCO3 limestone
Ca(OH)2 limewater
2. Systematic Names. These names mention the atoms or ions chemically combined. The guidelines
in naming compounds are as follows:

Binary Compounds. Binary compounds are compounds that are made up of two types of atoms
only. Binary compounds may either be ionic or covalent.

For binary ionic compounds, the name of the cation is named first followed by the name of the
anion.
Examples: NaCl sodium chloride FeCl2 ferrous chloride or iron (II) chloride
BaSO4 barium sulfate FeCl3 ferric chloride or iron (III) chloride

For binary covalent compounds (compounds made up of two nonmetals in different combination
ratios) the compounds are named by the name of the first element followed the anion with
multiple prefixes as recommended by the IUPAC.
Examples: NO nitric oxide or mononitrogen monoxide
N2O nitrous oxide or dinitrogen monoxide
NO2 nitrogen dioxide or mononitrogen dioxide
CO2 carbon dioxide
CO carbon monoxide
N2O4 dinitrogen tetraoxide
CCl4 carbon tetrachloride
P2P3 diphosphorus trioxide
P2O5 diphosphorus pentaoxide

Binary Acids. Compounds of hydrogen and a nonmetal such as HCl, HBr, H2S. etc. are acids
when dissolved in water. To name these compounds as acids, the prefix hydro is followed by the
name of the nonmetal, but the ending of the nonmetal is changed to ic, and the word acid is
added.
Examples: Formula Name of compound Name as Acid
HCl Hydrogen chloride Hydrochloric Acid
HBr Hydrogen Bromide Hydrobromic Acid
HI Hydrogen Iodide Hydroiodic Acid
HF Hydrogen Fluoride Hydrofluoric Acid
H2S Hydrogen Sulfide Hydrosulfuric Acid

Ternary Compounds. Compounds that are made up of three or more elements are ternary
compounds. To name ternary compounds, distinction must be made whether the compound is
acid, base, or salt.

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 Ternary Acids. Ternary acids are compounds containing hydrogen, oxygen, and a nonmetal as
central element. They are also referred to as oxyacids. To name oxyacids, the central atom is
named first as the first word. The ending is changed with the suffic “ic” if the anion name ends in
“ate” and “ous” if the anion name ends in “ite” followed by acid as the second word.
Examples: HClO4 perchloric acid
HClO3 chloric acid
HClO2 chlorous acid
HClO hypochlorous acid
H2SO3 sulfurous acid
H2SO4 sulfuric acid

Ternary Bases. Ternary bases are substances that yield hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in
water. To name these compounds, the cation is named first followed by hydroxide as the second
word.
Examples: NaOH sodium hydroxide
KOH potassium hydroxide
Ba(OH)2 barium hydroxide
Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide

Ternary Salts. Ternary salts are made up of cation other than H+, a nonmetal as the central atom
and oxygen. To name these compounds, the first word is the name of the cation, the second word
is the name of the anion.
Examples: MgSO3 magnesium sulfite
MgSO4 magnesium sufate
K3PO3 potassium phosphite
K3PO4 potassium phosphate

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