Chapter 6

Nomenclature of
Inorganic Compounds
Objectives:
Distinguish between common and systematic names of
compounds
Review differences between elements and ions

Be able to write formula from names of compounds

Understand binary compounds

Name compounds containing polyatomic ions

Name and recognize acids

Common and Systematic Names
 Common Names
 Arbitrary
 Not based on chemical composition
 Historically associated with a physical or chemical
property
 Not consistent among languages or disciplines
 Systematic names
 Identify the chemical composition
 Devised by IUPAC
 Elements and Ions
 Diatomic molecules
 2 atoms of same element
 H2, O2, N2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2
 Polyatomic
 3 or more atoms of same element
 Sulfur (S8) and Phosphorus (P4)
 Ion
 Charged particle
 Positive (cation)
 Negative (anion)
 Elements and Ions
 Naming cations
 Same as element but add the word ion
 Potassium ion
 Naming anions
 Stem of the parent name with ending changed to –
ide
 Add the word ion
 Oxide ion
 Commonly formed ions – figure 6.2 pg 107
 Writing Formulas from Names of
Compounds
 Chemical compounds must have a net charge
of zero
 Compare charges of ions formed from
elements
 “Trade” charges and rewrite as subscript on
opposite ion
 Write with lowest possible whole numbers
Writing Formulas from Names of
Compounds
 Write formulas for
 Sodium and chlorine

Na1+ Cl1- NaCl

 Aluminum and oxygen

Al3+ O2- Al2O3

 Writing Formulas from Names of
Compounds
 Write formulas for the following
 Calcium chloride
 Calcium will form Ca2+
 Chlorine will form Cl1-

 Formula is CaCl2
 Magnesium oxide
 Magnesium will form Mg2+
 Oxygen will form O2-

 Formula is MgO
 Writing Formulas from Names of
Compounds
 Barium phosphide
 Barium will form Ba2+
 Phosphorus will form P3-
 Formula is Ba3P2
 Sodium sulfide
 Sodium will form Na+
 Sulfur will form S2-
 Formula is Na2S
Binary Compounds
 Contain only two different elements
 Often metal with nonmetal (binary
ionic compound)
 Binary Ionic Compounds
Containing a Metal Forming
Only One Type of Cation
 Name of cation is left the same
 Name of anion is changed (-ide)
 Write formulas for the following compounds
 Strontium chloride
 Strontium is Sr2+ and Chlorine is Cl- SrCl2
 Calcium sulfide
 Calcium is Ca2+ and Sulfur is S2- CaS
Binary Ionic Compounds Containing
a Metal That Can Form Two or More
Types of Cations
 Metals in the center of the periodic table
 Iron can be Fe2+ or Fe3+
 Stock System
 Use Roman Numeral to designate charge of cation
 Copper (II) Chloride is CuCl
2

 Tin (IV) Oxide is SnO2

 -ous and –ic endings are also sometimes used
Binary Ionic Compounds Containing
a Metal That Can Form Two or More
Types of Cations
 Write the name for each of the following
compounds
 PbI2 Lead (II) Iodide

 Fe2O3 Iron (III) Oxide

Copper (II) Oxide

 CuO
Titanium (IV) Fluoride
 TiF4
 Binary Compounds Containing
Two Nonmetals
 Not ionic bonds - Molecular (covalent)
 Different system of naming
 Element that occurs first in the series below is
written and named first
 Si, B, P, H, C, S, I, Br, N, Cl, O, F
 Usually given to you…first element listed always

named first
 Second element retains –ide ending
 Binary Compounds Containing
Two Nonmetals
 Prefix is attached to each element to indicate the
number of atoms of that element in the molecule
 Mono (1) never used for first element
Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning
Mono 1 Hexa 6
Di 2 Hepta 7
Tri 3 Octa 8
Tetra 4 Nona 9
Penta 5 Deca 10
 Binary Compounds Containing
Two Nonmetals
 Examples:
 N2O is dinitrogen monoxide (drop “o”)
 S2F10 is disulfur decofluoride
 You try:
Diphosphorus pentoxide
 P2O5
Carbon tetrabromide
 CBr4
Nitrogen trihydride
 NH3
 Acids Derived from Binary
Compounds
 Hydrogen compounds – form acids in water
 Write symbol of H first, then the rest
 Shows it is an acid
 Naming
 Take stem of nonmetal
 Add prefix hydro-
 Add suffix –ic
 Add the word acid
 Acids Derived from Binary
Compounds
 H2S
 Hydrogen sulfide (if not in water)
 Hydrosulfuric acid
 HCl
 Hydrogen chloride (if not in water)
 Hydrochloric acid
Figure 6.4 on page 115
VERY HELPFUL FOR NAMING BINARY
COMPOUNDS
Naming Compounds Containing
Polyatomic Ions
 Polyatomic ion


 Must be able to recognize common polyatomic

ions
 Table 6.6 (pg 116)
Naming Compounds Containing
Polyatomic Ions
 Usually end in –ate or –ite (but not always)


 ClO- hypochlorite
 -ate indicates ClO2- chlorite
 -ite indicates ClO3- chlorate
 Nitrate is NO3- ClO4-
hyperchlorate
 Nitrite is NO2-
or
 Hypo- perchlorate
 (if more than two varieties)
Naming Compounds Containing
Polyatomic Ions
 Need to recognize polyatomic ions in Table 6.6
 Hydroxide (OH-)


 Cyanide (CN-)



Naming Compounds Containing
Polyatomic Ions

 Naming follows binary compound rules


 Naming Acids
 Oxy-acids
 Inorganic compounds containing hydrogen,
oxygen, and one other element


 Change ending of polyatomic ion

 HC H O
2 3 2

Hydrogen & acetate ion
 Add the word “acid” Acetic acid
 Homework
 Questions #1,3,6
 Paired Exercises #7-25 odd
 Additional Exercise #34 & 36
 Remember: Quiz next class 