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INORGANIC CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE
 All chemists follow the rules set out by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
BINARY IONIC COMPOUNDS
 Consist of two ions
 The metal is always written first, followed by the non-metal
Naming
1. The name of the metal is written first, followed by non-metal
2. The ending of the non-metal is changed to –ide
NaCl
KI
Chemical Formula
Follow the crisscross rule:
1. Write the symbol of each of the elements in the order in which they appear in the name of the compound.
2. Write the ionic charge (sometimes called valence or oxidation number) above the symbol of each of the
elements.
3. Crisscross the numbers written above the symbols such that the valence of one element becomes the subscript
of the other.
4. Divide each subscript by the highest common factor. The resulting subscripts indicate the ratio of ions present
in the compound.
5. Omit any subscript equal to 1 from the formula.
calcium bromide
magnesium oxide
BINARY MULTIVALENT IONIC COMPOUNDS
 Most transition metals and some representative metals can form more than one kind of ion (multivalent)
 The correct formula for can mean life or death:
 Mercury(I) chloride (HgCl) is also known as calomel and is found in medicine
 Mercury (II) chloride (HgCl2) is a deadly poison
Naming
1. Write the name of metal ion first, followed by its valence in Roman numerals in brackets.
2. To determine which valence a metal is using, you have to look at the charge on the non-metal ion first (reverse
cross). The charge on the metal ion will be exactly the same number, in order to create a neutral compound.
3. Write the name of the non-metal next, and change the ending to –ide
SnCl2
Fe2O3
SnO2
Chemical Formula
1. Follow the crisscross rule as before.
2. For the metal, use the valence given by the Roman numeral in the formula.
copper(II) fluoride
lead(IV) oxide
 Complete Nomenclature Worksheet #1
 Complete Q# 6 → 11 pg. 93
Classical System for Multivalent Compounds
 Before IUPAC set the rules for chemical nomenclature, chemists used an older system based on the Latin
names for various metals
 Only works for metals that have two possible ionic charges (valences)
 In many industries, the classical system is still used extensively
Classical Names of Common Multivalent Ions
Metal
iron
copper
tin
lead
antimony
cobalt
gold
mercury
Ion
Classical Name
2+
Fe
Fe3+
Cu+
Cu2+
Sn2+
Sn4+
Pb2+
Pb4+
Sb3+
Sb5+
Co2+
Co3+
Au+
Au3+
Hg+
Hg2+
ferrous
ferric
cuprous
cupric
stannous
stannic
plumbous
plumbic
stibnous
stibnic
cobaltous
cobaltic
aurous
auric
mercurous
mercuric
Naming
1. Determine which ionic charge (valence) the metal is using by doing a reverse cross as before.
2. Replace the –um ending in the Latin name of the metal with either –ous or –ic.
3. The lower valence uses –ous, the higher valence using –ic.
CuO
FeCl2
Chemical Formula
1. Follow the crisscross rule as before.
2. For the metal, use the ionic charge (valence) based on the Latin name used. The lower ionic charge (valence)
uses –ous, the higher ionic charge (valence) using –ic.
plumbous bromide
ferric oxide
 Complete More Multivalent Compounds Worksheet
TERTIARY IONIC COMPOUNDS
 Contain three elements
 Most contain a metal ion and a polyatomic ion (a covalently bonded group of atoms possessing a net charge)
 Oxyanions are polyatomic ions that include oxygen (see handout Oxy-acid Families and Their Related
Complex Ions)
 You are responsible for memorizing all the polyatomic ions found in Appendix C4 on page 635 in your
textbook!
Naming
1. Follow the same rules as with binary ionic compounds, but pay close attention to what polyatomic ion may be
in the compound.
2. Usually, write the name of the metal first followed by the name of polyatomic ion. Don’t forget, check to see
if the metal is multivalent!
MgSO4
Cu(NO3)2
NH4OH
Chemical Formula
1. Follow the crisscross rule as before.
2. For the polyatomic ion, place the ion in brackets first. The polyatomic ion’s formula will never change, only
the subscript outside the brackets may be reduced or dropped.
3. Omit the brackets if the subscript outside of it is 1.
sodium chlorite
iron(III) carbonate
 Complete Polyatomic Nomenclature Worksheet
 Complete Q# 15 → 18 pg. 96-97
HYDRATES
 Many tertiary ionic compounds form crystals that contain molecules of water within the crystal structure
(hydrates)
 When heat is applied to a hydrate, it decomposes to produce water vapour and an associated ionic
compound, indicating that the water is loosely held.
 When the water is removed, the product is referred to as anhydrous
Greek Prefixes
Number
Prefix
1
mono
2
di
3
tri
4
tetra
5
penta
6
hexa
7
hepta
8
octa
9
nona
10
deca
Naming
1. Follow the same rules as with tertiary ionic compounds, but indicate the number of water molecules by using
Greek prefixes and the word hydrate, for water after the compound name.
CuSO45H2O
LiBr4H2O
Chemical Formula
1. Follow the crisscross rule as before for the tertiary compound.
2. After the chemical formula, add a dot, and then write out the number of water molecules present
calcium chloride dihydrate
cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate
 Complete Q# 19 → 20 pg. 97
 Complete Student Worksheet 2.5E Extra Practice Questions: Ionic Nomenclature
BINARY ACIDS
 Are formed from binary ionic compounds that contain hydrogen and one other element that are dissolved in
water
e.g.
HCl(g)
→
hydrogen chloride
HCl(aq)
hydrochloric acid
 All acids have the subscript (aq) which means aqueous
 You are responsible for memorizing all of the binary acids listed in Table 6 on pg. 99 of your textbook!
OXYACIDS
 Acids that are formed from various combinations of hydrogen and oxyanions (negative polyatomic ions that
contain a non-metal and oxygen) that are dissolved in water
e.g.
HClO3(g)
hydrogen chlorate
→
HClO3(aq)
chloric acid
 You are responsible for memorizing all of the oxyacids acids listed on the handout, Oxy-acid Families
and Their Related Complex Ions!
Memory Aid for the Famous Families:
 Complete Nomenclature Worksheet #2
COVALENT (MOLECULAR) COMPOUNDS
 Contain two non-metals
 Uses the prefix system
Greek Prefixes
Number
Prefix
1
mono
2
di
3
tri
4
tetra
5
penta
6
hexa
7
hepta
8
octa
9
nona
10
deca
Naming
1. Use Greek prefixes to indicate the number of atoms.
2. The prefix mono- is dropped on the first atom.
3. When a prefix ending with ‘o’ or ‘a’ is followed by “oxide”, the ‘o’ or ‘a’ is dropped.
4. Hydrogen is the exception, and we do not use the prefix system with it.
CO
N2O3
H2S
Chemical Formula
1. Write out the symbols as they appear in the formula, the prefix indicates the number of each type of atom.
sulphur trioxide
carbon tetrachloride
diphosphorus trioxide
 Complete Covalent Naming Worksheet
 Q# 22 and 23 on pg. 98