Naming and Writing an Ionic

Formula
The name of an ionic compound
 is made up of 2 elements.
 has the name of the metal ion written first.
 has the name of the nonmetal ion written second
using the first syllable of its element name.
followed by ide.
 has a space separating the name of the metal and
nonmetal.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 1

 Charges of Representative
Elements

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 2

 Names of Some Common Ions

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 3

 Naming Ionic Compounds with
Two Elements

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 4

 Naming Mg3N2
Step 1 Identify the cation and anion.
The cation from Group 2A (2) is Mg2+, and
the anion from Group 5A (15) is N3−.
Step 2 Name the cation by its element name.
Cation: Mg2+ is magnesium
Step 3 Name the anion by using the first syllable of
its element name followed by ide.
Anion: nitrogen becomes nitride, N3−
Step 4 Write the name for the cation first and the
name for the anion second.
Mg3N2 is magnesium nitride.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 5

 Names of Some Ionic Compounds

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 6

 Learning Check
Write the names of the following compounds.
1. CaO ___________
2. KBr ___________
3. Al2O3 ___________
4. MgCl2 ___________

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 7

 Solution
Write the names of the following compounds.
1. CaO calcium oxide
2. KBr potassium bromide
3. Al2O3 aluminum oxide
4. MgCl2 magnesium chloride

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 8

 Learning Check
Write the formulas and names for compounds of the
following ions
Br– S2− N3−

Na+

Al3+

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 9

 Solution
Br− S2− N3−

NaBr Na2S Na3N

Na+ sodium bromide sodium sulfide sodium nitride

AlBr3 Al2S3 AlN

aluminum aluminum aluminum
bromide sulfide nitride
Al3+

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 10

 Metals with Variable Charge
Most transition metals (3-12) and Group 4A (14) metals
form 2 or more positive ions, except Zn2+, Ag+, and Cd2+,
which form only one ion.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 11

 Metals with Variable Charge
The names of transition metals with two or more
positive ions (cations) use a Roman numeral after the
name of the metal to identify the ion charge.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 12

 Naming Ionic Compounds with
Variable Charge Metals

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 13

 Naming FeCl2
Step 1 Determine the charge of the cation from the
anion.
Analyze the Problem.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 14

 Naming FeCl2
Step 2 Name the cation by its element name and
use a Roman numeral in parentheses for the
charge.
Fe2+ = iron(II)
Step 3 Name the anion by using the first syllable of
its element name followed by ide .
Cl− = chloride
Step 4 Write the name for the cation first and the
name for the anion second.
iron(II) chloride

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 15

 Examples of Names of Compounds
with Variable Charge Metals

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 16

 Writing Formulas for Ionic
Compounds

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 17

 Writing the Formula for Iron(III)
Oxide
Step 1 Identify the cation and anion.
Analyze the Problem.
Metal Nonmetal
Ion Iron(III) oxide
Group Transition 6A (16)
Symbol Fe3+ O2–

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 18

 Writing the Formula for Iron(III)
Oxide
Step 2 Balance the charges.

Step 3 Write the formula with the cation first, using

subscripts from the charge balance.
Fe2O3

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 19

 Learning Check
Write the correct name for CuO.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 20

 Solution
Step 1 Determine the charge of the cation from the
anion.
Analyze the Problem.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 21

 Solution
Step 2 Name the cation by its element name, and
use a Roman numeral in parentheses for the
charge.
Cu2+ = copper(II)
Step 3 Name the anion by using the first syllable of
its element name followed by ide .
O2− = oxide
Step 4 Write the name for the cation first and the
name for the anion second.
copper(II) oxide

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 22

 Learning Check
Write the correct formula for copper(I) nitride.

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 23

 Solution
Step 1 Identify the cation and anion.
Analyze the Problem.
Metal Nonmetal
Ion copper(I) nitride
Group Transition 5A (15)
Symbol Cu+ N3–

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 24

 Solution
Step 2 Balance the charges.

Step 3 Write the formula, cation first, using

subscripts from the charge balance.
Cu3N

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 5, Section 3 25