Nomenclature

(a.k.a. “Naming Chemical Compounds”)

Part I: Naming Ionic Compounds

Steps to Naming an Ionic compound

1. The name of the cation (metal) goes first

2. Drop the suffix (last syllable) of the anion (nonmetal), and add –ide

KBr = Potassium bromideCaO = Calcium oxide

Examples of Suffix Changes

•hydrogen = hydride•carbon = carbide•nitrogen = nitride•oxygen = oxide•sulfur = sulfide•all halogens: -ine -ide

Examples:

CaCl2

Li2O

Pt3N How will the reader know the charge

of platinum?

Steps to Naming an Ionic compound

3. Transition Metals . . .• Write a Roman numeral (ex. I, II, III, IV)

with the number of the charge after the name of the metal (remember: transition metals can have more than 1)

FeF2 = Iron(II) floride

FeF3 = Iron(III) floride

HgBr2 = Mercury(II) bromide

*Note: you can tell the charge of a transition metal by looking at its bonding partner

AgCl

AgCl2

Ag2O

Part II: Naming Compoundswith Polyatomic Ions

( a.k.a. “ternary” compounds =

3 elements or more)

10 Polyatomic Ions to know

CO3-2 carbonate

C2H3O2- acetate

MnO4- permanganate

CrO4-2 chromate

NH4+ ammonium

NO3- nitrate

SO4-2 sulfate

OH- hydroxidePO4

-3 phosphate

Add this one: SCN- thiocyanate

Matching quiz next class!

Steps to Name Compounds with Polyatomic Ions

1. If the polyatomic ion is 1st (left) write polyatomic ion name first end name of second element to with

–ide

NH4F = Ammonium fluoride

Steps to Name Compounds with Polyatomic Ions

2. If the polyatomic ion is 2nd (right) write metal name first write polyatomic ion name second

BaSO4 = barium sulfate

Ca(NO2)2 = calcium nitrite

Fe(NO3)2 = iron(II) nitrate

Part III: Naming Covalent Compounds

To be completed at a later date…

Steps to NameCovalent Compounds

1. Name of the element that is more LEFT on the periodic table goes on the LEFT

2. The name of the other element goes on the RIGHT and has -ide at the end

3. Greek prefixes tell how many of each atom are present (Hint: mono is only used for oxygen)

Greek Prefixes:

1= mono-2 = di-3 = tri-4 = tetra-5 = penta-

6 = hexa-7 = hepta-8 = octa-9 = nona-10 = deca-

•Greek prefixes are used BEFORE the element name

CO2 = carbon dioxide

P3S4 = triphosphorus tetrasulfide

*only foroxygen

Examples:

NO =

CCl4 =

N2S5 =

H2 =