Summary: “Given Chemical Formula, What is the Name?”
Examine Chemical Formula
Nonmetal + Nonmetal?
Metal + Nonmetal?
Formula begins with H and
ends with “(aq)”?
Molecular (Covalent) Naming
Name according to
ionic rules…
Acid Naming
Is it a common chemical
(i.e. NH3, H2O)?
How many different
elements?
Just 2
Binary Acid Rules
At least 3, one
of which is
Oxygen
No…
Yes!
Is it a diatomic molecule?
(HON F. BrICl)
Use Common Name
i.e. ammonia
Oxyacid Rules
No…
Is H the first atom in the
formula?
“hydro” + second element root
+“ic” acid
Derive name from polyatomic ion
with suffix* (i.e. “-ic”) + “acid”
i.e. HCl(aq) is “hydrochloric
acid”
i.e. H2SO4(aq) is “sulfuric acid”
* If polyatomic ion ended in –ate, replace it with –ic
If polyatomic ion ended in –ite, replace it with –ous
Yes!
No Prefixes – name is just
“Hydrogen _____ide”
Yes!
Name is the element
i.e. F2 = fluorine
molecule
No…
Name using prefix according
to the number of each atom
*(omit “mono” for first part of
name!)*
Summary: “Given Name, What is the Chemical Formula?”
Does name end with “acid”?
Yes!
No…
Does it start with “hydro”?
Is the name just an element?
Yes!
Yes!
It’s a diatomic molecule…
No…
Identify ions, use
cross-over method
(cation will always
be H+). Add (aq).
No…
Is it a common name? i.e.
water, methane, etc.
Yes!
Well then, good thing you
memorized the formula!
No…
Does the first part of the name
end with “–ic” or “–ous”?
Yes!
No…
Identify ions and use cross-over
method (ions will always be H+ and
some polyatomic ion). Add (aq)
Does the name start with
“hydrogen”?
Yes!
Identify ions, then use crossover method
No…
Are there prefixes in the name?
i.e. mono, di, etc…
No…
Yes!
Use prefixes to tell you the number of
atoms of each element (molecular)