Name_________________________________ Period_____ January 7, 2019
Practice Naming Binary Compounds
Why?
When you began chemistry class this year, you probably already knew that the chemical formula
for carbon dioxide was CO2. Today you will find out why CO2 is named that way. Naming
chemical compounds correctly is very important. The slight difference between the names
carbon monoxide (CO, a poisonous, deadly gas) and carbon dioxide (CO2, a greenhouse gas that
we exhale when we breathe out) can be the difference between life and death! In this activity you
will learn the naming system for molecular compounds.
Part 1 – Naming Binary Covalent Compounds (Nonmetal + Nonmetal)
Write the number of atoms of each type of element in the molecular formula.
Fill in the numbers for each Greek prefix. Write the name of each covalent compound.
Name_________________________________ Period_____ January 7, 2019
Part 2 – Naming Binary Ionic Compounds (Metal + Nonmetal)
Write the name of the following ionic compounds.
Molecular Formula
Name of Compound
NaCl
Sodium chloride
CaS
Ag2S
Zn3P2
Al2O3
SrCl3
Li2O
MgF2
Al2S3
Part 3 – Mixed Practice with Naming Binary Compounds
Chemical Formula
MgF2
SF2
NaBr
LiCl
IBr
Type of Compound
Ionic
Compound Name
Magnesium fluoride
Name_________________________________ Period_____ January 7, 2019