Ionic:
? Always written with empirical formula (lowest whole number ratio)
? Name the metal and then name the nonmetal with an “ide” (cation then anion)
? All ionic compounds since they have a metal and a nonmetal, are salts
Ex: NaCl (Sodium Chloride), MgBr2 (Magnesium Bromide)
? Use stock system when there is more than one oxidation number
Ex: PbCl4 – Lead (IV) Chloride
? The old naming has the first oxidation as “ous” and the second as “ic”
Ex: FeCl3 (Ferric Chloride), FeCl2 (Ferrous Chloride)
? 1
st
ox. names: Iron (Ferrous), Copper (Cuprous), Tin (Stannous), Gold (Aurous), Lead (Plumbous), Cobalt
(Cobaltous), Manganese (Managnous), Mercury (Mercurous), Nickel (Nickelous), Chromium (Chromous)
? The formula for mercurous/mercury(I) is Hg2
+2
Ternary Compounds:
? The polyatomic ion (radical) is named with “hypo --- ite”, “ite”, “ate”, “per---ate”
? Atoms in the same group have the same pattern as another element in the same group
Ex: NaClO3 (Sodium chlorate) and NaBrO3 (Sodium bromate)
? Use stock system if necessary
Ex: Fe(NO3)2 – Iron (II) Nitrate or Ferrous Nitrate
Hydrates:
? Use prefixes (mono, di, tri etc.) when referring to the water of hydration
Ex: Cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate – CoCl2·6H2O
Binary Molecular Compounds:
? Use prefixes, but don’t use mono on the first element
? The second element also ends in “ide”
Ex: N2O3 (Dinitrogen trioxide)
? If there are two conflicting vowels right next to each other, one of them is dropped
Ex: CO (Carbon monoxide)
Binary Acids:
? Name the acid as “Hydro---ic” acid
Ex: HCl (Hydrochloric acid)
Ternary Acids:
? Take the polyatomic name as a ternary compound and turn “ate” ? “ic” and “ite” ? “ous”
Ex: H2C2O5 ? Peroxalate ? Peroxalic acid
? HCN is an exception to the rule: Since it doesn't have an "ate" or "ite," you name it with the binary
method
Ex: HCN – Hydrocyanic acid