Naming Compounds Handout

IONIC COMPOUNDS versus MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS

ionic compound: consist of cations (positive ions) and anions (negative ions) held together by electrostatic attraction usually metal + nonmetal(s) made of monatomic ions, polyatomic ions, and/or both monatomic ions: consist of a single atom polyatomic ions: consist of more than one atom consist of nonmetal atoms bonded together by shared electrons (covalent bonding) acid: a molecular compound that releases + hydrogen ions (H ) when dissolved in water

molecular compound:

NAMING MONATOMIC CATIONS:

Metal atoms lose valence electrons to form positively charged ions, called cations. An ion formed from an individual atom is a monatomic (or monoatomic) cation. I. Groups IA to IIIA elements silver (Ag), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) form only one type of ion each: + + + + + Group IA elements form +1 ions: Li , Na , K , Rb , Cs Group IIA elements form +2 ions: Be , Mg , Ca , Sr , Ba +3 Group IIIA elements form +3 ions: Al + +2 +2 silver ion = Ag ; zinc ion = Zn ; cadmium ion = Cd
+2 +2 +2 +2 +2

When a Group IAIIIA element, silver, zinc, or cadmium forms an ion, it is named:

element name + ion

e.g. Na = sodium ion
+

Sr = strontium ion

+2

Zn = zinc ion

+2

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

page 1 of 12

II. The Stock system is used to name transition metals and other metals that form more than one ion: +2 +3 iron (Fe) forms two ions: Fe and Fe +2 +4 lead (Pb) forms two ions: Pb and Pb

When a a metal can form more than one ion, each ion is named:

element name (charge in Roman numerals) + ion

e.g. Fe = iron (II) ion +3 Fe = iron (III) ion
+2

Pb = lead (II) ion +4 Pb = lead (IV) ion

+2

Cu = copper (I) ion +2 Cu = copper (II) ion

Name each of the following monatomic cations:

+ +2

Li = _________________________
+

Cd

= _________________________

Ag

= _________________________

Cu

+2

= _________________________

Al

+3

= ________________________

Mg

+2

= _________________________

Mn
+

+2

= ________________________

Sn

+4

= _________________________

H = _________________________
+3

Co

+3

= _________________________

Fe
+

= ________________________

Na = _________________________
+4

K = ________________________

Ti

= _________________________

Ca

+2

= ________________________

Ni

+2

= _________________________

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

page 2 of 12

NAMING MONATOMIC ANIONS:

Nonmetal atoms gain valence electrons to form negatively charged ions called anions.

When a nonmetal forms an ion, it is named:

element stem name + ide + ion

e.g. O = oxygen atom N = nitrogen atom

! !

2 3

= oxide ion = nitride ion

Name each of the following monatomic anions: F =

_________________________

Cl = _________________________ S P
2 3

Br = _________________________ I =

= _________________________ = _________________________

_________________________

NAMING POLYATOMIC IONS:

Ions made up of more than one atom are polyatomic ions: only one polyatomic cation: NH4 = ammonium ion many polyatomic anions: see table below
+

NH4+= ammonium ion OH = hydroxide ion CN = cyanide ion CrO4

2

Polyatomic Ions
NO2 = nitrite ion NO3 = nitrate ion SO4 SO3
2

C2H3O2 = acetate ion PO4 = phosphate ion MnO4 = permanganate ion CO3
2 3

= chromate ion = dichromate ion

= sulfate ion = sulfite ion

Cr2O7

= carbonate ion

HCO3 = hydrogen carbonate ion or bicarbonate ion

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

page 3 of 12

Name each of the following polyatomic ions:

2

CN = _________________________
2

CrO4

= _______________________

SO4

= _________________________ NO3 = ________________________

3

OH = _________________________
+

PO 4

= ________________________

NH 4 = _________________________

C 2H3O 2 = _____________________

WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULAS GIVEN INDIVIDUAL IONS

Compounds must be neutral

total +ve charge = total ve charge

1. If the two ions have exactly opposite charges (+1 and 1, +2 and 2, +3 and 3) formula of the compound contains one of each ion e.g. Na
+ +2

+ Cl

! ! !

NaCl CaS AlN

+ NO3
+2

!
2 3

KNO3

Ca Al

+ S + N

Ba Fe

+ SO4 + PO4

! !

BaSO4 FePO4

+3

+3

Combine each pair of ions to get the formula of the compound they form: NH4 Sr
+

+ F

! ________________
2

Li

+ CN

!
3

________________ ________________

+2

+ CO3

! ________________

Al K

+3

+ PO4

Na

+ C2 H 3 O 2

! ! !

________________

+ OH
+3

! ________________ ! !
________________

Ni

+2

+ CrO4

________________

Fe

+ N

Cd

+2

+ SO4

________________

Co

+3

+ P

________________
page 4 of 12

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

2a. If two monatomic ions have different charges ! use crossover rule to get formula of the compound superscript for cation becomes subscript for anion superscript for anion becomes subscript for cation simplify subscripts to get lowest ratio of atoms (Note: Only the numbers cross down, not the signs!)

Ti2O4 is simplified! b. If two ions have different charges and at least polyatomic ion is involved use crossover rule to get formula of the compound if more than one of polyatomic ion in formula, use parentheses simplify subscripts to get lowest ratio of atoms (Note: Again only the numbers cross down, not the signs!)

2 NH+ O 4 (NH4)2O
>

Ca NO3> Ca(NO3)2

2+

Pb>4+ CO2 3> Pb(CO3)2

Pb2(CO3)4 is simplified!

Combine each pair of ions to get the formula of the compound they form:

Cu

Sn

+4

SO4

Li

CO3

Fe

+3

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

>

>

Na+ S 2 Na2S
>

> Ba2+ N3 Ba3N2

Ti O> TiO2

4+

Ni

+2

PO4

page 5 of 12

CHEMICAL FORMULAS AND NAMES FROM INDIVIDUAL IONS

Compounds are named from the individual ions they come from.

Name the cation and the anion, then remove ion from each name: e.g. Na = sodium ion Cl = chloride ion
+ +

NaCl = sodium chloride

K = potassium ion 2 CO3 = carbonate ion Fe = iron (III) ion NO3 = nitrate ion Ag = silver ion 2 S = sulfide ion
+ +3

K2CO3 = potassium carbonate

! !

Fe(NO3)3 = iron (III) nitrate

Ag2S = silver sulfide

Combine each pair of ions to get the chemical formula, then name the compound: Individual ions Compound Formula Compound Name

Mg Ni

+2

F S

_____MgF2______ _______________ _______________ _______________

______magnesium fluoride_____ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

page 6 of 12

+2

Ca Al

+2

Br P

+3

Co K
+

+2

NO2 CrO4

_______________ _______________ _______________

Fe

+3

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

GIVEN THE CHEMICAL FORMULA, NAME THE COMPOUND

1. If the metal is in Groups IAIIIA, silver, cadmium, or zinc, then just name the metal cation and the anion: e.g.

NaCl ! Na = sodium and Cl = chloride ! sodium chloride BaI2 ! Ba = barium and I = iodide ! barium iodide

Al(OH)3 ! Al = aluminum and OH = hydroxide ! aluminum hydroxide ZnSO4 ! Zn = zinc and SO4 = sulfate ! zinc sulfate

2. If the metal can form more than one ion, a. Use reverse crossover to get the individual ions Make the subscript of cation the negative charge of anion Make the subscript of anion the positive charge of cation b. Check to make sure the charges on the ions are correct c. Name the cation and the anion, then remove ion from both e.g.

Ni Br2
then

Ni

+2

= nickel (II) ion

Br = bromide ion

Is bromides charge really 1? YES!

NiBr2 = nickel (II) bromide

d. If a polyatomic ion is involved, remember that more than one polyatomic is shown in parenthesesi.e. DO NOT bring up the subscript of atoms in a polyatomic ion to be the charge of the metal!

CuSO4

2 for the Cu based on the SO4. The formula is SO4 , and 2 there is only ONE SO4 , so Cus charge here must be +2 for the compound to have an overall charge of zero. 2 ! Cu+2 = copper (II) ion SO4 = sulfate ion

! There is only ONE Cu and ONE SO4, so get the charge

then

CuSO4 = copper (II) sulfate

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

page 7 of 12

Give the name for each compound given its chemical formula:

Formula MgCl2 LiOH ZnCO3 K2S FePO4 SnO2 CuBr2 Ag3N Mn(CN)2 AgC2H3O2

Individual Ions
Mg
+2

Name of Compound
magnesium chloride

Cl

WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULAS GIVEN THE COMPOUND NAME

Get the individual ions from the name, then combine them using the crossover rule: e.g. barium chloride

barium = Ba

+2

chloride = Cl

Ba+2 Cl
aluminum sulfate

BaCl2
+3

aluminum = Al

sulfate = SO4

Al+3 SO42
CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

Al2(SO4)3
page 8 of 12

Give the name for each compound given its chemical formula:

Name of Compound
lithium cyanide iron (III) sulfate calcium iodide tin (IV) dichromate cadmium nitrite copper (II) acetate zinc carbonate lead (II) phosphide potassium sulfite cobalt (II) nitride nickel (II) permanganate

individual ions
Li
+

Formula LiCN

CN

NAMING MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS

Indicate number of atoms of each element with Greek prefix before element name: # of atoms 1 2 3 4 5 Greek Prefix mono (usually omitted) di tri tetra penta # of atoms 6 7 8 9 10 Greek Prefix hexa hepta octa nona deca
page 9 of 12

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

For the first element: For the second element: Note:

Greek prefix + element name Greek prefix + element name stem + -ide

Mono is generally omitted, except in common names like CO = carbon monoxide

P2O5
diphosphorus pentaoxide
Name the following molecular compounds:

SF6
sulfur hexafluoride

SO3 = _____________________

SiBr4 = ______________________

XeF6 = ______________________ ClF3 = ______________________ N2O4 = ______________________ Cl2O7= ______________________ PCl5 = ______________________ P4O10 = _____________________

DETERMINING FORMULAS OF MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS

Use Greek prefix(es) to determine number of atoms of each element in formula. Get elements and number of atoms of each from name:

tetraphosphorus hexasulfide

P4S6
CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout page 10 of 12

Give the formulas for each of the following molecular compounds:

nitrogen trichloride

dibromine heptaoxide

dinitrogen pentasulfide

DETERMINING FORMULAS AND NAMES OF ACIDS FROM IONS

Given an ion, we can get formula of acid by: we can name for acid:

adding H atoms equal to negative charge on ion depending on suffix of ion name

F = fluoride ion NO2 = nitrite ion SO4

2 = sulfate ion

add # of H's equal to negative charge

HF (aq) = hydrofluoric acid HNO2 (aq) = nitrous acid H2SO4 (aq) = sulfuric acid

add # of H's equal to negative charge

add # of H's equal to negative charge

Name each of the following ions, and determine the formula and name of the corresponding acid that forms from the ion.
Name of Ion Formula of Acid Name of Acid

Cl = _____chloride ion_____ ! ____HCl____ (aq) = ___hydrochloric acid____ CO3 SO3 PO4

2 2 3 = _________________ = _________________ = _________________

! ! !

_________ (aq) = _______________________ _________ (aq) = _______________________ _________ (aq) = _______________________

NO3 = __________________ ! __________ (aq) = ______________________

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout page 11 of 12

Name each of the following acids:

HBr (aq)= _________________ H2CrO4 (aq)= ___________________ H2SO4 (aq)= _______________ HC2H3O2 (aq)= ________________
Give the formula for each of the following acids: [Dont forget to indicate (aq)!]

hydrofluoric acid = __________ phosphoric acid = ___________ hydroiodic acid = ___________ sulfurous acid = ___________
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Name each of the following compounds:

nitrous acid = ___________ chromic acid = ___________ carbonic acid = ___________ nitric acid = ___________

BaCl2

_____________________

NiBr2 SO2 PbSe2 PF5

____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

HNO3(aq)_____________________ AgF _____________________

NiSO3 _____________________ K2SO4 _____________________ FeP _____________________

Cr(C2H3O2)3________________ Al2(CO3)3 ___________________ Cd(OH)2 __________________

CuMnO4 _____________________

CHEMISTRY Naming Compounds Handout

page 12 of 12