Naming compounds

L0 - Basic Chemistry I
 Why naming?

People Places Characteristics

Na2SO4 NH4Cl Na2CO3

Sodium sulfate Ammonium Chloride Sodium carbonate
 Why naming?
The 50 millionth substance (CAS Registry Number 1181081-51-5) was registered in 2009.

5Z-5-[(5-Fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]-2-(4-methyl-1-piperazinil)-4(5H)-thiazolone

CAS REGISTRYSM contains (now) more than 144 million unique organic and inorganic
chemical substances, such as alloys, coordination compounds, minerals, mixtures, polymers
and salts.
 Naming Inorganic Compounds

Ionic
Compounds Hydrates
Acids and
Molecular Bases
Compounds
Chemical Nomenclature is the systematic naming of chemical compounds
IUPAC is the universally-recognized authority on chemical nomenclature
 Ionic
Compounds
 Ionic Compounds
Chemical reactions occur when atoms gain, lose, or share electrons
Metals Nonmetals

gain / accept
Nonmetals _____________ electrons lose / donate
Metals ________________ electrons
This gives them a ____ charge
_ This gives them a ____ + charge
Negative ions are called ___________
anions Positive ions are called ___________
cations
 Ionic Compounds
Rules for Naming Ions
 Ionic Compounds
Rules for Naming Ions
1. The names of metals do not change
2. Changing the name of nonmetals:
root of element name + -ide = name of ion
Examples:
The name of chlorine’s ion: chlor- + -ide = chloride
The name of nitrogen’s ion: nitr- + -ide = nitride
A few polyatomic anions also have names ending in –ide. Example:
OH- - hydroxide ion, CN- - cyanide ion, O22- - peroxide ion
 Ionic Compounds
Exercise : Write the name of each ion

sulfide lithium
nitride bromide
oxide chloride
potassium hydrogen (+), hydride (-)

If the ion ends in –ide, it is probably from the periodic table.

If the ion ends in –ate or –ite, it is a polyatomic ion
Examples:
sulfide S-2 nitride N-3
sulfite SO3-2 nitrite NO2-
sulfate SO4-2 nitrate NO3-
Ionic Compounds
1. NaF sodium fluoride
2. MgO magnesium oxide
3. SrCl2 strontium chloride
4. Li2S lithium sulfide
5. CaO calcium oxide
6. KI potassium iodide

The names of transition metals include their charge

because their charges are less predictable.
Fe2+ : ferrous ion [Fe(II)] Cu1+ : cuprous ion [Cu(I)]
Fe3+ : ferric ion [Fe(III)] Cu2+ : cupric ion [Cu(II)]

Mn2+ : manganese(II) ion [Mn(II)] Sn2+ : stannous (II) ion [Sn(II)]

Mn3+ : manganese(III) ion [Mn(III)] Sn4+ : stannic (IV) ion [Sn(IV)]
Mn4+ : manganese(IV) ion [Mn(VI)]
 Ionic Compounds
Remember: There are three transition elements which do not require a roman numeral
because they have single definite charges:
Zinc _______
+2 Cadmium _______
+2 Silver _______
+1

Ions of the same element with different charges have different properties

The substance on the left is Fe3O4, which contains

Fe2 + and Fe3 + ions.
The substance on the right is Fe2O3, which contains
Fe3 + ions.
 Ionic Compounds
Formulas for ionic compounds are generally empirical formulas.
Ionic compounds are electronically neutral.
 Ionic Compounds
In order for ionic compounds to be electronically neutral, the sum of the
charges on the cation and anion in each formula must be zero.

Aluminum oxide:
Al3+ O2–

Al2O3

Sum of charges: 2(+3) + 3(–2) = 0

 Ionic Compounds / Polyatomic ions
There are also ions comprised of two or more atoms. These ions are known as polyatomic
ions, and each polyatomic ion has its own name. Formulas are determined following the
same rule as for ionic compounds containing only monatomic ions: ions must combine in a
ratio that give a neutral formula overall.

Calcium phosphate:

Ca2+ PO43–

Ca3(PO4)2

Sum of charges: 3(+2) + 2(–3) = 0

Ionic Compounds / Polyatomic ions

When there is polyatomic ion in the ionic

compound, simply use the name of the
polyatomic ion in the compound.

Exercise:
Name the following ionic compounds:
a) Fe2(SO4)3
b) Al(OH)3
c) Hg2O
d) NH4F
e) CaSO4
f) Na2S2O3
h) BaCr2O7
 Oxyanions
Oxyanions are polyatomic anions that contain one or more oxygen
atoms and one atom (the “central atom”) of another element. Perchlorate ClO4-
chlorate ClO3-
Starting with the oxyanions that end in –ate, we can name these ions
chlorite ClO2-
as follows:
hypochlorite ClO-
1) The ion with one more O atom than the –ate ion is called the
per…ate ion. Thus, ClO3- is the chlorate ion, so ClO4- is the
nitrate NO3-
perchlorate ion.
nitrite NO2-
2) The ion with one less O atom than the –ate ion is called the –ite
ion. Thus, ClO2- is the chlorite ion. phosphate PO43-
3) The ion with two fewer O atom than the –ate ion is called the phosphite PO33-
hypo…ite ion. Thus, ClO- is the hypochlorite ion.
sulfate SO42-
At minimum, memorize the oxyanions that end in –ate so you can sulfite SO32-
apply these guidelines when necessary.
 Oxyanions
Prefixes are used when the series of oxyanions of an element extends to four
members, as with the halogens. The prefix per- indicates one more O atom than
the oxyanion ending in -ate; hypo- indicates one O atom fewer than the oxyanion
ending in -ite:
 Oxyanions
Anions derived by adding H+ to an oxyanion are named by adding as a prefix the
word hydrogen or dihydrogen:

Notice that each H+ added reduces the negative charge of the parent anion by one.
According to an older method for naming, some of these ions uses the prefix –bi.
Example: HCO3- - bicarbonate, HSO4- ion - bisulfate
 Ionic Compounds
You can also determine the formula of an ionic compound
from its name

magnesium iodide
+2 -
Mg I
MgI2
Step 1: Write the symbol of the metal ion.
Step 2: Write the symbol of the nonmetal ion.
Step 3: Determine the charges using the periodic table.
Step 4: Determine the formula from the ions.
 Ionic Compounds
This is just as easy to do with polyatomic ions. You just
need to use the name of the polyatomic ion
strontium nitrate
+2 -
Sr NO3
Sr(NO3)2
Step 1: Write the symbol of the metal ion.
Step 2: Write the formula of the polyatomic ion.
Step 3: Determine the charges using the periodic table
and the table of polyatomic ions.
Step 4: Determine the formula from the ions.
 Ionic Compounds
Exercise : Write the formula of each ionic compound

KI
SnCl4
BaSO4
NaCl
SrS
CuCO3
AlBr3
Li3N
 Ionic Compounds
Exercise : Name the ionic compounds

calcium chloride
potassium sulfide
potassium permanganate
barium oxide
ammonium chloride
cesium chloride
magnesium sulfate
sodium bromide
aluminum phosphide
 Ionic Compounds

Which of the following pairs of elements are likely to

form an ionic compound?

a. helium and oxygen

b. magnesium and chlorine
c. chlorine and bromine
d. potassium and sulfur
e. sodium and potassium
f. nitrogen and iodine
 Ionic Compounds
Write the correct ionic formula for the compound formed
between each of the following pairs of ions:

Al3+ and Cl-

Na+ and O2-
Al3+ and Br-
Ba2+ and N3-
Mg2+ and F-
Al3+ and S2-
Ca2+ and S2-
Li+ and S2-
Rb+ and P3-
Cs+ and I-
 Molecular
compounds
 Molecular Compounds
shared
electrons

Chemical reactions occur when atoms gain, lose,

or share electrons.
Sharing electrons creates a covalent bond
share electrons to form a
Nonmetals can _______
covalent bond.
molecule .
This creates a ___________
 Molecular Compounds
Determining if a compound is molecular or ionic is easy:

- Molecular compounds contain only nonmetals

- Ionic compounds contain a metal and a nonmetal

Exercise: Decide whether the compounds are ionic or molecular

M M I

I M I
 Molecular Compounds
Important Facts:
Because hydrogen only has 1 proton and 1 electron, it behaves
differently than any other element in the Periodic Table of elements
Hydrogen can
donate its 1
H+ electron H
Hydrogen can 2
share
Hydrogen can
electrons
gain 1
H- electron

Hydrogen can act as either a metal or a nonmetal!

 Binary Molecular Compounds
What does binary mean? To show the correct ratio of elements
Binary means 2 prefixes are used
Binary molecular compounds are
between 2 different nonmetals
 Binary Molecular Compounds
Nonmetals can share electrons in many different ways. This means
that two nonmetals can create multiple compounds together
carbon and oxygen phosphorous and chlorine

CO CO2 PCl3 PCl5

nitrogen and oxygen

N2O4 N2O3
Each of these contains a different ratio of elements. Because of
this, we have to make sure that the name of the compound
explains the correct ratio
 Binary Molecular Compounds
Steps for Naming Binary Molecular Compounds

N2O4
dinitrogen
nitrogen tetroxide
oxide

Step 1: Write the name of the first nonmetal.

Step 2: Write the name of the second
nonmetal changing its ending to –ide.
Step 3: Add prefixes to specify how many of
each element are present.
 Binary Molecular Compounds
Rules for Using Prefixes
Rule 1: Prefixes are only for BINARY MOLECULAR (NOT IONIC) compounds.

Rule 2: The prefix mono- is never used on the first element of a binary
molecular compound. Without a prefix it is assumed that there is only 1.

Example: CO2 is carbon dioxide, and not monocarbon dioxide

Rule 3: Remove the -o or -a from a prefix before adding it to oxide.

Example: CO is carbon monoxide, and not carbon monooxide

 Binary Molecular Compounds

How would you write each of the prefixes in front of oxide?

Remember: Remove the -o or -a from a prefix before adding it to oxide.

mono- ____________
monoxide di- ____________
dioxide
trioxide
tri- ____________ tetroxide
tetra- ____________
pentoxide
penta- ____________ hexa- ____________
hexoxide
hepta- ____________
heptoxide octoxide
octa- ____________
nonoxide
nona- ____________ deca- ____________
decoxide
 Binary Molecular Compounds
Exercise : Name the binary molecular compounds

carbon dioxide
carbon disulfide
phosphorous tribromide
phosphorous pentabromide
diphosphorous pentasulfide
dinitrogen monosulfide
silicon disulfide
nitrogen tribromide
dinitrogen tetrachloride
 Binary Molecular Compounds
Because of the prefixes, it is very easy to go from the name
of a binary molecular compound to its formula

dinitrogen tetrafluoride

N2 F4
Step 1: Write the symbol of the first nonmetal and
the subscript that matches the prefix.
Step 2: Write the symbol of the second nonmetal
and the subscript that matches the prefix.
 Binary Molecular Compounds

Exercise : Write the formulas of the binary molecular compounds

CCl4 IF7
PCl5 N2O4
N2O PCl3
CS CO
BH3 ICl
S2Br6 S4N4
SiS2 H2O
PI3 ClF5
NCl3 NO2
Exercise : Write the names of the compounds

carbon tetrabromide
carbon monosulfide
sodium permanganate
strontium iodide
potassium sulfate
dinitrogen tetrasulfide
magnesium nitrate
silicon tetrachloride
diphosphorous pentoxide
Exercise : Write the formulas of the compounds

HCl
BaF2
SnS
N2O
CS2
S2Cl6
Na3PO4
PtCl2
Acids and
Bases
 Acids
Naming an acid depends on whether the anion contains oxygen.

If the anion does not contain oxygen the acid is named with the
prefix hydro and the suffix -ic

Some simple acids and their anions

 Oxyacids
Oxyacids - compounds of hydrogen, oxygen, and a third element.
If the anion contains oxygen the acid name is formed from the root name of
the anion with the suffix -ic or –ous + acid
Exercise : Give the names of the following compounds

HCl H2SO4 NaOH

Hydrochloric acid Sulfuric acid Sodium hydroxide

H2 S H3PO4 HNO3
Hydrosulfuric acid Phosphoric acid Nitric acid

Ca(OH)2 HCN Fe(OH)3

Calcium hydroxide Hydrocyanic acid Iron (III) hydroxide

HClO HClO3 HJ
Hypochlorous acid Chloric acid Hydroiodic acid
Exercise : Give the chemical formula of the following bases and acids

Hydrobromic acid Sulfuric acid Hydroiodic acid

HBr H2SO4 HI

Lithium Hydroxide Nitrous acid Cobalt (II) Hydroxide

LiOH HNO2 Co(OH)2

Nitric acid Potassium Hydroxide Hydrofluoric acid

HNO3 KOH HF

Beryllium Hydroxide
Be(OH)2
Hydrates
 Hydrates
Hydrates - Compounds that have a specific number of water molecules attached to them

Remember: The ONLY time that you use the numerical prefixes with ionic compounds is to
indicate the number of water molecules attached to a hydrated ionic compound

CuSO4·5H2O CuSO4
Copper(II) sulfate anhydrous
Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate
Anhydrous – means that, the
water molecules have been
driven off by heating
 Hydrates

Exercise : Give the name or the chemical formula of the following hydrates
CuSO4· 5H2O Na2CO3· 10H2O
Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate Sodium carbonate decahydrate

Cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate LiCl·H2O

CoCl2 · 6H2O Lithium chloride hydrate
Common and Systematic Names of Some Compounds