Chapter 5: Molecules and Compounds

Section 3: Naming Ionic

Compounds
Learning Goals
Distinguish between common and systematic
names for compounds.
Name binary ionic compounds containing a
metal that forms only one type of ion.
Name binary ionic compounds containing a
metal that forms more than one type of ion.
Name ionic compounds containing a
polyatomic ion.
Naming Compounds
Chemists have developed systematic ways to
name compounds.
 If you learn the naming rules, you can examine a
compound’s formula and determine its name,
and vice versa.
Many compounds also have a common name.
 NaCl has the common name salt and the
systematic name sodium chloride.
Naming Ionic Compounds
Identify if the metal cation has more than
one potential charge.
 Such metals are usually (but not always) found
in the transition metals section of the periodic
table.
 Notable Exceptions:
▪ Always Zn2+ and Ag+
▪ Sn and Pb can have multiple charges
Binary Ionic Compounds
Binary compounds are those that
contain only two different elements.
The names for binary ionic compounds
containing a metal that forms only one
type of ion have the following form:
Name of Cation + Base Name of Anion + ide
Binary Ionic Compounds
Since the charge of the metal is always
the same for these types of compounds,
it need not be specified in the
compound’s name.
 Example: MgF2
Binary Ionic Compounds
Practice
Name these compounds:
 CaO
 Al2O3
 KF
 MgCl2
 Li3N
Practice
Write the formula for these ionic
compounds:
 Potassium bromide

 Sodium oxide

 Zinc nitride
Binary Ionic Compounds
If the cation could have more than one
charge, then the charge must be
specified in the metal’s name.
 We specify the charge with a Roman
numeral (in parentheses) following the
name of the metal.
Binary Ionic Compounds
For example, we distinguish between
Cu+ and Cu2+ by writing a (I) to indicate
the 1+ ion or a (II) to indicate the 2+ ion:
 Cu+ Copper(I)
 Cu2+ Copper(II)
Binary Ionic Compounds
These compounds are named using the
following form:

Name of (charge of metal in Base Name of

Cation
+ roman numerals)
+
Anion + ide
Binary Ionic Compounds
We can determine the charge of the
metal from the chemical formula of the
compound.
 The sum of all the charges must be zero.
Binary Ionic Compounds
What is the charge of iron in FeCl3?
 +3
What is the name for FeCl3?
 Iron (III) Chloride
Practice
Name the following compounds:
 PbCl4

 PbO

Explain why CaO is not named calcium (II)

oxide.
Practice
Write the formula for the following
compounds:
 Chromium (II) chloride

 Tin (IV) oxide

 Iron (III) oxide

Polyatomic Ionic Compounds
Ionic compounds containing polyatomic
ions are named using the same
procedure we apply to other ionic
compounds, except that we use the
name of the polyatomic ion whenever it
occurs.
Polyatomic Ionic Compounds
For example, we name KNO3 using its
cation, K+, potassium, and its
polyatomic anion, NO3-, nitrate.
 KNO3 potassium nitrate
Practice
Fe(OH)2

NH4NO3
Practice
Write the formula for the following
compounds:
 barium nitrate

 ammonium iodide

 iron (III) hydroxide

Polyatomic Ionic Compounds
Many polyatomic ions are oxyanions,
anions containing oxygen.
When a series of oxyanions contain
different numbers of oxygen atoms,
they are named systematically
according to the number of oxygen
atoms in the ion.
Polyatomic Ionic Compounds
If there are two ions in the series, the one
with more oxygen atoms is given the
ending -ate and the one with fewer is
given the ending -ite.

NO3− nitrate SO42− sulfate

NO2− nitrite SO32− sulfite
Polyatomic Ionic Compounds
If there are more than two ions in the series,
then the prefixes hypo-, meaning “less
than,” and per-, meaning “more than,” are
used.
 ClO − hypochlorite BrO − hypobromite
ClO2− chlorite BrO2− bromite
ClO3− chlorate BrO3− bromate
ClO4− perchlorate BrO4−perbromate
Practice
K2CrO4

Mn(NO3)2
Practice
Write the formula for the following
compounds:
 sodium perchlorate

 sodium chlorite

 sodium nitrate

 sodium nitrite