How To Name
Chemical Formulas
Supplemental to Chapter 20
Binary Compounds
Binary Compounds are ionic bonds between
one metal (+) and one nonmetal (-).
When you name binary ionic compounds,
you always mention the cation (+ ion) first
(usually the metal).
When you name the second ion (the – anion),
you will change the ending to “ide”
Common Binary Anions
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Sulfur
Chlorine
oxide
phosphide
nitride
sulfide
chloride
Name These Binary Compounds
RbCl =
NaF =
CuO =
AlN=
K2S =
NaCl =
Name These Binary Compounds
RbCl = Rubidium Chloride
NaF = Sodium Fluroide
CuO = Copper Oxide
AlN= Aluminum Nitride
K2S = Potassium Sulfide
NaCl = Sodium Chloride
Polyatomic Ions
Polyatomic ions are a group of ions (2+
elements) that are covalently bonded
together.
1) You would say the first element as is.
2) You would then say the rest of the
bonded polyatomic ions after the first
element, using their specific endings.
Polyatomic Ion Endings
Ammonium
Acetate
Chlorate
Hydroxide
Nitrate
Carbonate
Sulfite
Sulfate
Phosphate
NH4
C2H3O2
CIO3
OH
NO3
CO3
SO3
SO4
PO4
Naming Polyatomic Ions
HSO4 NaNO3 Ba(OH)2 KNO3 CaCO3 CuSO3 –
CaSO4 –
(notice the different endings of the last two
polyatomic ions.)
Naming Polyatomic Ions
HSO4 - Hydrogen Sulfate
NaNO3 - Sodium Nitrate
Ba(OH)2 - Barium hydroxide
KNO3 - potassium nitrate
CaCO3 - calcium carbonate
CuSO3 – copper sulfite
CaSO4 – calcium sulfate
Prefixes for Covalent
Compounds
The prefixes indicate how many atoms of
each element are in a binary covalent
compound. These occur when 2 nonmetals
covalently bond.
Prefixes for Covalent
Compounds
Mono =
Di =
Tri =
Tetra =
Penta =
Hexa =
Hepa =
Octa =
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
How to Say Covalent
Compounds
P2O5 - this is named diphosphorus
pentoxide, because there are two
phosphorus atoms and five oxygen
atoms.
CO - this is carbon monoxide (you
need the "mono-" because there's
only one oxygen atom).
CF4 - this is carbon tetrafluoride,