I.Matter A.2 Writing and Naming Compounds

9.
4 Naming and Writing

Formulas for Acids and Bases >
Chapter 9
Chemical Names and Formulas
9.1 Naming Ions
9.2 Naming and Writing Formulas for Ionic
Compounds
9.3 Naming and Writing Formulas for Molecular
Compounds
9.4 Naming and Writing Formulas for

Acids and Bases
9.5 The Laws Governing How Compounds Form
1 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

9.4 Naming and Writing
Formulas for Acids and Bases > CHEMISTRY & YOU
What’s the name

of the acid
responsible for the
crisp taste in this
drink?
There’s a certain
acid that gives
many soft drinks
their crisp,
enjoyable taste.

Formulas for Acids and Bases > Names and
Formulas of Acids
Names and Formulas of Acids
How do you determine the name and

formula of an acid?

Formulas of Acids
• Acids are a group of ionic compounds with

unique properties.
• Acids can be defined in several ways.

• For now, it is enough to know that an
acid is a compound that contains one or
more hydrogen atoms and produces
hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.

Formulas of Acids
• Acids have many uses.
• For example, sulfuric acid is often used

to etch circuit boards like the one shown
below.

9.4 Naming and Writing Names and
Formulas for Acids and Bases > Formulas of Acids
• When naming an acid, you can consider the

acid to consist of an anion combined with as
many hydrogen ions as needed to make the
molecule electrically neutral.
• Therefore, the chemical formulas of acids

are in the general form HnX, where X is a
monatomic or polyatomic anion and n is a
subscript indicating the number of hydrogen
ions that are combined with the anion.

• Three rules can help you name an acid with

the general formula HnX dissolved in water.
• The naming system depends on the

name of the anion (X), in particular the
suffix of the anion name.
• Each rule deals with an anion with a

different suffix: -ide, -ite, and -ate.


1. When the name of the anion ends in -

ide, the acid name begins with the
prefix hydro-. The stem of the anion
has the suffix -ic and is followed by
the word acid.
• Therefore, HCl (X= chloride) is named

hydrochloric acid.

2. When the anion name ends in -ite,

the acid name is the stem of the
anion with the suffix -ous, followed
by the word acid.
• Thus, H2SO3 (X = sulfite) is named

sulfurous acid.


3. When the anion name ends in -ate,

the acid name is the stem of the
anion with the suffix -ic, followed by
the word acid.
• Thus, HNO3 (X = nitrate) is named

nitric acid.

These three rules for naming an acid with

the general formula HnX dissolved in
water are summarized in the table below.
Naming Common Acids

Anion
Example Acid name Example
ending
-ide chloride, Cl– hydro-(stem)-ic acid hydrochloric acid
-ite sulfite, SO3– (stem)-ous acid sulfurous acid
-ate nitrate, NO3– (stem)-ic acid nitric acid

An acid that provides the crisp taste in

many soft drinks has the formula H3PO4.
What’s the name of this acid?

An acid that provides the crisp taste in

many soft drinks has the formula H3PO4.
What’s the name of this acid?
The name of this acid is phosphoric acid.

Writing Formulas of Acids

To write the formula for an acid, use
the rule for writing the name of the acid
in reverse. Then, balance the ionic
charges just as you would for any ionic
compound.


• For example, consider hydrobromic acid.
• Rule 1 states: When the name of the anion

ends in -ide, the acid name begins with the
prefix hydro-. The stem of the anion has the
suffix -ic and is followed by the word acid.
• Following Rule 1, hydrobromic acid (hydro-

prefix and -ic suffix) must be a combination of
hydrogen ion (H+) and bromide ion (Br –).
• The formula is HBr.


• How do you write the formula for phosphorous acid?
• Rule 2 states: When the anion name ends in -ite,

the acid name is the stem of the anion with the
suffix -ous, followed by the word acid.
• Using Rule 1, hydrogen ion and phosphite ion

(PO33–) must be the components of phosphorous
acid.
• You need three hydrogen ions to balance the

3– charge of the phosphite ion.
• Thus, the formula for phosphorous acid is

16 H3PO3. Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• Finally, what is the formula for sulfuric acid?
• Rule 3 states: When the anion name ends in
-ate, the acid name is the stem of the anion with
the suffix -ic, followed by the word acid.
• According to Rule 3, sulfuric acid (-ic ending)

must be a combination of hydrogen ion and
sulfate ion (SO42–).
• The formula for sulfuric acid is H2SO4

because two hydrogen ions are needed to
balance the 2– charge of the sulfate anion.


• Many industrial
processes, including Common Acids
steel and fertilizer Name Formula
manufacturing, use
Hydrochloric acid HCl
acids.
Sulfuric acid H2SO4
• You should become Nitric acid HNO3
familiar with the HC2H3O2
Ethanoic acid
names and formulas
of common acids Phosphoric acid H3PO4
such as those listed Carbonic acid H2CO3
in the table at right.

Formulas for Acids and Bases > Sample Problem 9.8
Naming Acids
Name the following compounds
as acids.
a. HClO
b. HCN

1 Analyze Identify the relevant concepts.

The anion of the acid determines the acid name.
(1) If the name of the anion ends in -ide, name
the acid using the stem of the anion with the
prefix hydro- and the suffix -ic, followed by the
word acid. (2) If the anion name ends in -ite,
name the acid using the stem of the anion with
the suffix -ous, followed by the word acid. (3) If
the anion name ends in -ate, name the acid
using the stem of the anion with the suffix -ic,
followed by the word acid.
2 Solve Apply concepts to this problem.

Identify the anion in the acid and the suffix of
the anion name.
a. HClO: ClO–, (hypochlorite)
b. HCN: CN–, (cyanide)

2 Solve Apply concepts to this problem.

Name the acid using the appropriate prefix (if
any) and suffix. Finish with the word acid.
a. HClO: ClO–, (hypochlorite)
hypochlorous acid
(Rule 2)
b. HCN: CN–, (cyanide)

hydrocyanic
What is the name of the acid H2S?

(Hint: X = sulfide)

What is the name of the acid H2S?

(Hint: X = sulfide)
H2S is named hydrosulfuric acid.
Use Rule 1: When the name of the anion

ends in -ide, the acid name begins with the
prefix hydro-. The stem of the anion has the
suffix -ic and is followed by the word acid.
Formulas for Acids and Bases > Names and Formulas
of Bases
Names and Formulas of Bases
How do you determine the name and

formula of a base?

of Bases
• A base is generally an ionic compound that

produces hydroxide ions when dissolved in
water.
Bases are named in the same way as other

ionic compounds—the name of the cation
is followed by the name of the anion.

of Bases
• The common base

sodium hydroxide is
used in making
cleaners, soap, and
paper, as shown in
the figure at right.
• Sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) is composed
of sodium cations
(Na+) and hydroxide
anions (OH–).
of Bases
To write the formula for a base, first

write the symbol for the metal cation
followed by the formula for the
hydroxide ion. Then, balance the ionic
charges just as you would for any ionic
compound.

of Bases
• For example, aluminum hydroxide consists of

the aluminum cation (Al3+) and the hydroxide
anion (OH–).
• You need three hydroxide ions to balance the

3+ charge of the aluminum cation.
• Thus, the formula for aluminum hydroxide is

Al(OH)3.

Naming Bases
Name the following bases.
a. KOH
b. Fe(OH)2

1 Analyze Identify the relevant concepts.

Bases are named like other ionic compounds—
the name of the cation is followed by the name of
the anion.

2 Solve Apply the concepts to this problem.

First, identify the cation and the anion in the
compound.
a. KOH: cation: K+
anion: OH–
b. Fe(OH)2: cation: Fe2+

anion: OH–
2 Solve Apply the concepts to this problem.

Now write the name of the cation, followed by the
name of the anion.
a. KOH: cation: K+
anion: OH–
potassium hydroxide
b. Fe(OH)2: cation: Fe2+

anion: OH–
iron(II) hydroxide
Formulas for Acids and Bases > Key Concepts
If the anion name ends in -ide, the acid
name begins with the prefix hydro-. The
stem of the anion has the suffix -ic and is
followed by the word acid. If the anion
name ends in -ite, the acid name is the
stem of the anion with the suffix
-ous, followed by the word acid. If the
anion name ends in -ate, the acid name is
the stem of the anion with the suffix
-ic, followed by the word acid. To write the
formula for an acid, use the rule for writing
the name of the acid in reverse.
Formulas for Acids and Bases > Key Concepts
Bases are named like other ionic

compounds. To write the formula for a
base, write the symbol for the metal cation
followed by that of the hydroxide ion.
Then, balance the ionic charges.

Formulas for Acids and Bases > Glossary Terms
• acid: a compound that produces hydrogen

ions in solution; see also hydrogen-ion
donor, Lewis acid
• base: a compound that produces

hydroxide ions in solution; see also
hydrogen-ion acceptor, Lewis base

END OF 9.4

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9.

4 Naming and Writing

9.4 Naming and Writing Formulas for

9.5 The Laws Governing How Compounds Form

1 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

What’s the name

2 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Names and Formulas of Acids

How do you determine the name and

3 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• Acids are a group of ionic compounds with

• Acids can be defined in several ways.

4 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• Acids have many uses.

• For example, sulfuric acid is often used

5 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• When naming an acid, you can consider the

• Therefore, the chemical formulas of acids

6 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• Three rules can help you name an acid with

• The naming system depends on the

• Each rule deals with an anion with a

7 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• Three rules can help you name an acid with

1. When the name of the anion ends in -

• Therefore, HCl (X= chloride) is named

• Three rules can help you name an acid with

2. When the anion name ends in -ite,

• Thus, H2SO3 (X = sulfite) is named

9 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

• Three rules can help you name an acid with

3. When the anion name ends in -ate,

• Thus, HNO3 (X = nitrate) is named

10 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

These three rules for naming an acid with

Naming Common Acids

11 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

An acid that provides the crisp taste in

12 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

An acid that provides the crisp taste in

The name of this acid is phosphoric acid.

13 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Writing Formulas of Acids

14 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Writing Formulas of Acids

• Rule 1 states: When the name of the anion

• Following Rule 1, hydrobromic acid (hydro-

• The formula is HBr.

Writing Formulas of Acids

• Rule 2 states: When the anion name ends in -ite,

• Using Rule 1, hydrogen ion and phosphite ion

• You need three hydrogen ions to balance the

• Thus, the formula for phosphorous acid is

Writing Formulas of Acids

• According to Rule 3, sulfuric acid (-ic ending)

• The formula for sulfuric acid is H2SO4

17 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Writing Formulas of Acids

18 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

19 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

1 Analyze Identify the relevant concepts.

2 Solve Apply concepts to this problem.

b. HCN: CN–, (cyanide)

21 Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.