How to Name Ionic and Covalent Compounds
IONIC Bonds
Covalent Bonds
1.
Write the name of the cation FIRST (remember that’s your metal)
2.
Next, write down the name of the anion (remember that’s your non-metal) with
You will use the prefix’s below for covalent bonding
1.
Look at the chemical formula and write down the first element name with the
pre-fix that corresponds to its subscript number.
the ending changed to -IDE.
HINT: NEVER USE mono- for the first element name
Example: oxygen is renamed to oxide
2.
Sulfur is renamed to sulfide
Nitrogen is renamed to nitride
Write down the second element name with the pre-fix that corresponds to its
subscript number.
HINT: YOU WILL ALWAYS USE MONO- if there is only one atom
Ionic compound Name examples:
Covalent Compound name examples:
NaBr is sodium bromide
CO2 will be carbon dioxide
CaCl2 is calcium chloride
N2O will be dinitrogen monoxide
H2O will be dihydrogen monoxide
Only use prefixes for
COVALENT NAMING!