Naming Ionic (metal/nonmetal) binary compounds

When a metal combines with a non-metal, The resulting compounds contains ions.

• To name these compounds you just have to name the ions.• Group 1 metals will always give a positive one charge. The non-metal will always give a negative charge. • Ionic binary compounds rules:

1. The cation (positive ion) is always named first and the anion (negative ion) second.

1. A simple cation takes its name from the name of the element. For example, K is called potassium in the names of compounds containing this ion. 3. A simple anion is named by taking the first part of the element name and adding the suffix “ ide”. So, the O ion is called oxide

Question:

Name the following compound MgO

These are the present ions: Mg2+, O2-

Answer:

Magnesium Oxide

Naming Ionic Compounds (with transition metals) These are the combinations of a group 3-12 metals and a non-metal

Transition metals are ions that can form more than one type of cation. For example iron (Fe) can form a 2+ or 3+ ion, some other examples would be gold (Au), or chromium (Cr)

So we would name these compounds by taking the roman numeral in parenthesis and that would be the charge of your metal. You would have to adjust the subscript # of your anion in order to match the charge of your metal

Try this first example.

Question:

Iron(III)chloride

Answer:

FeCl3 this is the answer because the iron had a positive 3 charge, However the chloride ion only had a 1 negative charge, we need 3Of these to balance the charge of the ion.

Try these next few on your own…

Question:

Tin(IV)oxide

Answer:

SnO2 the tin had a 4+ charge and the oxide has a 2- charge so we need 2 of these to balance charges

Question:

Silver(I)Nitrate

Answer:

AgNO3

Question:

MnO2

Answer:

Manganese(II)oxide

Question:

PbSO4

Answer:

Lead (II) Sulfate

Naming Covalent Compounds

Covalent compounds consist of a non-metal on a non-metal

Rules for naming these: 1. The first element in the formula is named first 2. The 2nd element is named as it was the anion 3. Prefixes are used to denote the numbers of

atoms present. 4. mono- is never used in front of first element.

Question:

Name the following:

BF3

Answer:

Boron triflouride

Question:

CO

Answer:

Carbon monoxide

Question:

P4O6

Answer:

Tetraphosphorus hexoxide

Question:

Dinitrogen trioxide

Answer:

N2O3