NAMING A BINARY COMPOUND
1. [name of Cation] [name of Anion]
Cation: keep name as is
Monatomic anions: change ending to –ide
Polyatomic ions keep their names as is
2. Is the compound ionic? If yes go to #3
Is the compound covalent? If yes go to #4
3. Does the cation have more than one possible oxidation state?
NO = name is complete 
YES = the name of the compound must include the oxidation state in (roman numerals)
immediately following the element. name is complete 
4. Use prefixes (mono, di, tri, tetra) to indicate multiple atoms of the same element.
Note: No prefix is needed on the cation if there is only 1 of them.
name is complete 
1. [name of Cation] [name of Anion]
Cation: keep name as is
Monatomic anions: change ending to –ide
Polyatomic ions keep their names as is
IONIC
COVALENT
Does the cation have
more than one possible
oxidation state?
NO
name is complete 
YES
Use prefixes (mono, di, tri, tetra)
to indicate multiple atoms of the
same element.
Note: No prefix is needed on the
cation if there is only 1 of them.
name is complete 
name of the compound must
include the oxidation state in
(roman numerals) immediately
following the element.
name is complete 
OXYANIONS
NAMING ACIDS
• If it has hydro- in the name it has no oxygen (Anion ends in –ide)
•
•
No hydro in name, anion ends in -ate or –ite
Write anion and add enough H to balance the charges.