Acid Nomenclature
Acid Nomenclature
• Traditional inorganic acids contain hydrogen
combined with a negative ion. To name these
compounds, apply the following rules:
A. Binary Acids – an acid that contains TWO
elements – a hydrogen and a non-metal ion
Naming Binary Acids
• 1. Use the prefix hydro• 2. Use the root of the full name of the
nonmetallic element
• 3. Add the suffix –ic and the word acid
Naming Binary Acids
Hydro + root of non-metal + -ic and “ACID”
• Examples:
HCL hydrochloric acid
H2Se hydroselenic acid
Practice Problems
• Name the following acids.
– HBr
– H2Se
– HCl
– HI
– HF
Practice Problems
• Write formulas for the following acids:
– Hydrofluoric acid
– Hydrosulfuric acid
– Hydrophosphoric acid
– Hydrobromic acid
– Hydroiodic acid
Naming Ternary Acids
B. Ternary Acids – “oxyacids” – acids that contain
hydrogen and a polyatomic ion that has oxygen
1. Determine the name of the polyatomic ion
(radical).
2. Change the radical’s ending
i. -ate changes to –ic
ii. -ite changes to -ous
Naming Ternary Acids
1. Determine the name of the polyatomic ion
(radical).
2. Change the radical’s ending
i. -ate changes to –ic
ii. -ite changes to –ous
3. Keep any prefixes like hypo- and per4. Add the word acid
Radical name -ic (if ion ends in -ate) and ACID
Or
Radical name -ous (if ion ends in -ite) and ACID
Examples
HClO4
HClO2
HClO3
HClO
Writing Formulas for Oxyacids
Hydrogen is always listed FIRST. Look at the
name of the acid and find the radical. Remember
that the -ic ending came from the -ate ion and the
-ous ending came from the -ite ion.
Write the formula so the total charge is equal to
zero.
Examples
Sulfuric Acid
Sulfurous Acid
Nitric Acid