Naming Compounds Flowchart
Yes
Does the compound
contain more than 2
elements?
No
Compound contains
a polyatomic ion.
Look it up in the
chart below.
Does the
compound
contain a metal
or NH4?
No
COVALENT COMPOUND
The first compound listed will be
the one listed the farthest left in
the periodic table.
Yes
IONIC COMPOUND
Yes Is the metal a No transition
metal
Yes
is there only one atom per
molecule for the first
element listed?
No
(Columns 3-12)?
Calculate the charge of
the metal. Write the metal
followed by the charge
(Roman numerals in
parenthesis).
Write the metal (or
ammonium of NH4)
Is the anion
(negatively charged
particle) a polyatomic
ion?
Yes
Write the name of
the polyatomic ion.
Write the element
without the prefix.
Write the element
using a prefix (see
box).
Write the second element
using a prefix (see box).
No
Write the nonmetal element,
replacing the
ending with -ide.
Common Polyatmic Ions
Ammonium NH4+
Hydroxide OHNitrate NO3Carbonate CO3-2
Sulfate SO4-2
Phosphate PO4-3
Common Prefixes
for Covalent Compounds
1 - mono
2 - di
3 - tri
4 - tetra
5 - penta
6 - hexa
7 - hepta
8 - octa
9 - nona
10 - deca
Naming Compounds Flowchart
No
Yes
Are there any
prefixes? (see table
below).
Write the first element
abbreviation; convert the
prefix to a subscript
number written AFTER the
chemical abbreviation. If
the first element does not
have a prefix, no number is
required (there’s just one).
Write the second element
abbreviation; convert the
prefix to a subscript (if it’s
mono, just leave it). Write
the number as a
subscript after the
chemical abbreviation.
Common Polyatmic Ions
Ammonium NH4+
Hydroxide OHNitrate NO3Carbonate CO3-2
Sulfate SO4-2
Phosphate PO4-3
Does any substance
end in -ate, -ite, or is
any substance
hydroxide or
ammonium?
No
Yes
Substance contains
a polyatomic ion.
Look it up in the
table below.
IONIC COMPOUND
Look up the charge of
the cation (+ charge)
Look up the charge of
the anion (- charge)
Adjust quantity of each
so that the total charge
is zero. Make sure to
keep polyatomic ions
as a group. If more than
one polyatomic ion is
needed, place it in
parenthesis.
The quantity of the
cation and anion are
written as a subscript
after the chemical
abbreviation.
Common Prefixes
for Covalent Compounds
1 - mono
2 - di
3 - tri
4 - tetra
5 - penta
6 - hexa
7 - hepta
8 - octa
9 - nona
10 - deca