Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
Name___________________________ Hour: _____ Page 1
Chemistry A
Naming
Compounds I
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Worksheet #1: Ionic and Covalent Bonding
An atom is the smallest amount of an element that has all of the properties of the element. For example, a gold wedding
ring contains trillions upon trillions of gold atoms. There is only one element, gold, but the amount of gold is the total
number of gold atoms. A compound is a combination of multiple atoms.
A molecule is the smallest amount of a compound that has all of the properties of the compound. For example, imagine a
bucket of pure water (H2O). The bucket contains only one compound, H2O, but there trillions upon trillions of water
molecules within the bucket.
1. What is the difference between an atom and an element?
2. What is the difference between a molecule and a compound?
Compounds are held together by chemical bonds. There are many different types of chemical bonds. In this packet we
will learn about two: ionic bonds and covalent bonds.
Ionic compounds are made of positive ions (metals) and negative ions (nonmetals). The attractions between these
oppositely charged ions hold the compound together. Electrons get completely transferred from the metal to the
nonmetal ion.
Covalent compounds are made of two nonmetals. These bonds are formed when two or more nonmetal atoms
share electrons.
3. What do chemical bonds do?
4. What are ionic compounds made of?
5. What are covalent compounds made of?
6. Which bond shares electrons?
7. Which type transfers electrons?
8. Label each of the following compounds as ionic or covalent:
a. H2O
b. NaCl
c. MgO
d. SO2
e. GeCl4
f. CsF
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds Name___________________________ Hour: _____ Page 3
Worksheet # 2-Naming Ionic Compounds
At this point you have learned approximately 60 of the known elements on the periodic table. These
elements will combine to form different compounds. This occurs both in nature as well as in a laboratory. The
purpose of this packet is to teach you how to name these compounds as well as write the formulas for different
chemical compounds. A compound is a chemical combination of two or more different elements. It is a
substance that has its own definite properties and is represented by a combination of symbols and
numbers called a formula.
We will begin with ionic compounds. Remember these contain a metal and a nonmetal.
1. First name the metal.
2. Name the nonmetal, but change the ending to –ide.
The formula below represents potassium oxide. You will notice that there are tiny numbers that appear in the
formula. These numbers are called subscripts. Subscripts tell you the number of each atom in a compound.
For example
K2O
subscript
Notice that there is no subscript after the oxygen. If a subscript is not written, assume that it is a one.
That means that in the above compound there are two potassium atoms and one oxygen atom.
Give the name for the following compounds. Then determine the number of atoms by adding the subscripts.
Formula
Name
# atoms
Formula
CsF
NiS
Rb2O
RaBr2
Na2S
Ag2O
AlCl3
NiBr2
CaO
BaS
MgS
SrCl2
K2Te
CsI
CdCl2
CdF2
ZnO
BaO
AuCl3
AlI3
Name
# atoms
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds Name___________________________ Hour: _____ Page 4
Worksheet #3: Writing Formulas for Ionic Compounds
Binary compounds of a metal and a nonmetal contain ions: positive metal ions and negative nonmetal
ions. All compounds are neutral. This means that if we add up all of the positive ions they must equal all
of the negative ions. The charge an element has in a compound in called an oxidation number. The
oxidation number is related to the number of electrons in the outermost shell of an atom. In order to write the
formulas for compounds of metals and nonmetals you must use the oxidation numbers of each element.
Steps to follow.
1. Write the symbol for the metal with the oxidation number (or charge) of the
metal as a superscript
Example: sodium oxide
Na+1
2. Write the symbol for the nonmetal with the oxidation number (or charge) of
the nonmetal as a superscript
O-2
3. Switch the numbers and write them as subscripts. (Notice that the subscripts
do not get a +/-). We will refer to this as “Swap and Drop”.
Na+1O-2
Na 2 O1
Na2O
4. If the subscript is one, you do not need to write it.
5. The subscripts tell you how many of each atom you have in the compound.
2 Na and 1 O combine
to make sodium oxide.
Write the correct formula for the following ionic compounds.
Name
potassium chloride
sodium sulfide
magnesium iodide
barium oxide
cadmium sulfide
aluminum oxide
calcium nitride
lithium fluoride
sodium chloride
cesium oxide
Symbols with oxidation #s
Formula
(Swap and Drop)
# of atoms
(add the subscripts)
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds Name___________________________ Hour: _____ Page 5
Name
Symbols with oxidation #s
Formula
# of atoms
(Swap/Drop)
(add the subscripts)
nickel oxide
aluminum bromide
rubidium sulfide
cesium sulfide
beryllium iodide
zinc telluride
radium selenide
sodium phosphide
potassium iodide
magnesium nitride
More Practice: Name the following compounds and determine the number of atoms.
Formula
Name
# atoms
Formula
CsI
BeSe
Na2S
RbI
RaI2
ZnTe
Al2N3
SrBr2
CaO
CoCl2
Li3P
Ag2S
KCl
BaO
NiBr2
Fr2O
Name
# atoms
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds Name___________________________ Hour: _____ Page 6
More Practice: Write the formulas for the following compounds.
Name
Symbols with
oxidation #s
Formula
# of atoms
Symbols with
oxidation #s
Formula
# of atoms
silver sulfide
cadmium bromide
nickel chloride
magnesium fluoride
radium chloride
aluminum iodide
rubidium nitride
barium chloride
sodium nitride
beryllium oxide
Name
cesium nitride
silver chloride
lithium phosphide
zinc bromide
magnesium sulfide
zinc telluride
potassium arsenide
calcium oxide
aluminum selenide
beryllium fluoride
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds Name___________________________ Hour: _____ Page 7
Worksheet # 4-Calculating Oxidation Numbers
The charge an element has in a compound in called an oxidation number. Many elements only
have one possible oxidation number, but other elements have several possible oxidation numbers
depending upon what they are combined with and the conditions under which they formed. Both metals
and nonmetals may have more than one oxidation number. However, we will learn how to determine the
oxidation numbers of the metals in a particular compound.
Remember that the total charge on any compound is zero. Therefore, if we know the oxidation number
of one element in a compound we can figure out the oxidation number of the other element in the compound.
Let us first consider the compound with the formula CuCl. We can look on the periodic table and find
that the oxidation number of chlorine is –1. We can use this to determine the oxidation of the Cu in CuCl. If
the oxidation of Cl is –1 then we know the oxidation number of Cu must be +1. If we add the numbers together
we see that they equal 0. This makes the compound neutral. Now lets try some that are a little more
challenging.
Example: Ga2O3
Now we have 2 Ga and 3 O in this compound. We need to establish some steps to help you.
1. Divide the compound in half.
Ga2 O3
2. Find the charge of the nonmetal (the element on the right) by looking on your periodic table.
It is –2.
3. Multiply the charge by the number of atoms. In this case we have 3. So the charge on all of
the fluorine atoms in this compound is –2.
(-2)(3)= -6
Ga2 O3
4. If the right side of the compound its –6 so the left side of the compound must be +6
(remember it has to equal 0).
5. Since there are 2 Ga know that both gallium combined are equal to +6. But we need to know
the oxidation number of one gallium so we need to divide by the number of atoms in the
compound.
(+6/2 atoms)=+3
(-2)(3atoms)= -6
Ga2 O3
For each of the following compounds infer the oxidation number for an individual metal atom. The
oxidation number on chlorine is –1 and the oxidation number for oxygen is –2.
Formula
Calculation
Charge of
Metal
Formula
NiO
PbO
AuCl
PbO2
W2O5
SnO
La2O3
SnO2
MnO2
U2O3
Calculation
Charge of
Metal
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Worksheet #5- Naming Multiple Oxidation Number Metals
Write the name and charges for the seven metals that we use which have multiple oxidation numbers.
Multiple Oxidation Number Metal
Lower Oxidation Number
Higher Oxidation Number
Roman numerals are used to show which metal ion is in a particular compound. In order to name the
following compounds
1) name the metal
2) write the oxidation number as a Roman Numeral in parenthesis
3) name the nonmetal with an –ide ending
Roman Numerals
I=1 II=2
Formula
CuCl
CuCl2
FeO
Fe2O3
SnS
SnS2
PbO
PbO2
SbF3
III=3
IV=4
V=5
Metal Oxidation
Number
VI=6
VII=7
VIII=8 IX=9
X=10
Stock Name
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
SbF5
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BiBr3
BiBr5
Hg2O
HgO
Worksheet #6 Writing Formulas for Multiple Oxidation Number Metals
Other than the alkali metals (+1) and the alkaline earth metals (+2) most metals can have more than one
oxidation number, their oxidation number depends upon what they are combined with and the conditions under
which they were formed. We call these multiple oxidation number metals and we will work with seven.
We will now learn to write the formula for compounds that were named using roman numerals. The steps you
follow are essentially the same as you did on worksheet #2. The exception is that the Roman Numeral represents the
oxidation number for the metal and all you need to look up on the periodic table is the oxidation number of the nonmetal.
Name
copper(I) chloride
copper(II) bromide
mercury(I) oxide
mercury(II) sulfide
iron(II) sulfide
iron (III) iodide
tin(II) fluoride
tin(IV) oxide
antimony(III) sulfide
antimony(V) nitride
lead(II) sulfide
lead(IV) oxide
Symbols with oxidation
#s
Formula
# of atoms (add subscripts)
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Worksheet #7- Putting it all together: Ionic Compounds
The following set contains a mixture of compounds. Some will require the use of the Stock Method and others will not.
1) Put an “*” next to each of the compounds that contain a multiple oxidation number metal.
2) Name each compound. For compounds with a “*” be sure to infer the oxidation number for each starred
compound. Then use the Stock Method to name it.
Formula
Name
# of atoms
Bi2S3
KCl
Al2O3
FeO
RaI2
Na3P
Cu3N
Be3As2
Rb2Se
SrTe
Write the formulas for the following compounds.
Name
Symbols with oxidation
#s
iron(II) nitride
barium bromide
antimony(III) oxide
potassium chloride
tin(IV) sulfide
aluminum iodide
Formula
# of atoms
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Worksheet #8: Review of Worksheets # 1-7
Write the name and charges for the seven metals that we use which have multiple oxidation numbers.
Multiple Oxidation Number Metal
Lower Oxidation Number
Higher Oxidation Number
In the following table go through and “*” all of the compounds which contain multiple oxidation numbers. Then write the
name of the following compounds using the Stock Method ONLY when a multiple oxidation number metal is present.
Formula
Name
Formula
Fe2S3
Rb3N
NaCl
FeP
Bi2O5
Mg3As2
PbO
Ca3N2
BaF2
Hg2S
Name
Write the formulas for the following compounds.
Name
Symbols with
oxidation #s
Formula
Name
iron(III) sulfide
potassium chloride
francium iodide
bismuth(V) arsenide
copper(II) nitride
strontium selenide
beryllium phosphide
lithium telluride
radium fluoride
tin(IV) oxide
antimony(V) oxide
aluminum bromide
Symbols with
oxidation #s
Formula
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Worksheet #9- Naming Covalent Compounds with 2 Non-Metals
The compounds that we have used so far have all contained a metal bonded to a nonmetal. You will now learn
how to name compounds and write the formulas for compounds containing nonmetals only. Compounds that consist of
nonmetals contain covalent bonds. These elements share electrons in order to become stable. (We will worry about how
and why this happens later.) Since these compounds form under a variety of conditions we cannot use oxidation numbers
determine their formulas. We must instead use prefixes. These prefixes will also be used in the names of each formula so
that you know what how many of each type of element is in the compound.
1 = mono 3 = tri 5 = penta 7 = hepta 9 = nona
2 = di
4 = tetra 6 = hexa 8 = octa 10 = deca
Consider NO and N2O. If we used the naming method from worksheet #1 then we would call each of these nitrogen
oxide. If I told you that you produced a gas called nitrogen oxide in lab then you would not know which one to which I
was referring. The correct names are below:

N2O is called dinitrogen monoxide.

NO is called nitrogen monoxide. (Note: I did not call this compound mononitrogen monoxide. We never
start a compound with the prefix mono-.)
Name the following compounds.
Formula
N2O4
Name
P4O10
GeCl4
H2O
BCl3
SO2
When you write the formula for compounds that are made up of nonmetals you do not need to look up the oxidation
numbers. The prefix becomes the subscript. For example: the formula for dinitrogen trioxide is N2O3. The formula for
carbon dioxide is CO2. Did you notice that carbon does not have a prefix? If there is a compound that is made up of all
nonmetals and there is no prefix at the beginning of the name, you are to assume the prefix is mono- and the subscript is
one.
Write the formulas for the following compounds.
Name
Formula
tetraphosphorus decasulfide
dichlorine heptaoxide
silicon tetrafluoride
dinitrogen trioxide
carbon monoxide
carbon tetrachloride
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Worksheet #10 – Naming Binary Compounds Review
1. Put an “*” on every compound that contains a multiple oxidation number metal.
2. Write the word “prefix” next to each compound that is made up of all nonmetals.
3. Name the following compounds. If the compound contains a multiple oxidation number metal you are to use
the Stock Method to name it. If the compound contains all nonmetals you are to use the prefixes to name the
compound. Otherwise name the metal and then the nonmetal with the –ide ending.
Formula
Name
Formula
Name
S3O9
RaI2
ZnTe
NiO
P2O3
PCl3
NaCl
Au2S
Cu3N
AgF
BF3
NO3
Cs3P
Fe2Se3
Write the formula for the following compounds. You will not need the column for the “symbols with oxidation #s” for
compounds that are made up of nonmetals.
Name
Symbols with
Formula
Name
Symbols with
Formula
oxidation #s
oxidation #s
calcium telluride
diboron trioxide
rubidium nitride
XXX
silver chloride
mercury (I) sulfide
silicon dioxide
bismuth(V) selenide
platinum oxide
carbon monoxide
XXX
XXX
lead (IV) bromide
francium arsenide
carbon disulfide
barium iodide
strontium phosphide
XXX
4. Define the following:
a. compound: ________________________________________________________________________
b. oxidation number: __________________________________________________________________
c. subscript: _________________________________________________________________________
5. When do you use the roman numerals? ________________________________________________________
6. When do you use prefixes? __________________________________________________________________
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Worksheet #11 – More Naming Review
The following compounds contain both metals and nonmetals.
Name
Symbols with
Formula
Formula
oxidation #s
sodium sulfide
NaCl
magnesium iodide
AlCl3
silver oxide
SrBr2
rubidium fluoride
CoBr2
Calculate the oxidation number of the following metals.
Formula
Name
Calculation
Oxidation Number
of the Metal
Fe2S3
Bi3P5
Hg2O
SbN
The following compounds contain multiple oxidation number metals. Use Roman Numerals.
Name
Symbols with
Formula
Formula
Calculation
oxidation #s
copper (I) nitride
SnO2
lead (IV) chloride
Hg3P
iron (II) sulfide
Bi2S3
antimony(V) iodide
Sb2O3
The following compounds contain nonmetals only.
Name
dihydrogen monoxide
Formula
Formula
CO
boron trichloride
P4O10
dinitrogen monoxide
SiO2
dichlorine heptaoxide
N2O3
sulfur hexafluoride
CBr4
Name
Name
Chemistry A Naming Binary Compounds
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Worksheet #12- The Final Review
This review sheet contains all types of compounds that we have learned so far. if you can complete this table with only a
periodic table (oxidation numbers only) then you should do well on the quiz.
Name
Symbols with
Formula
Name
Symbols with
Formula
oxidation #s
oxidation #s
diphosphorus trioxide
XXX
nickel iodide
carbon tetrachloride
XXX
calcium phosphide
iron (III) bromide
nitrogen monoxide
Platinum nitride
potassium phosphide
magnesium fluoride
mercury (I) oxide
antimony(V) sulfide
aluminum sulfide
chromium telluride
sulfur trioxide
XXX
XXX
Write the formula for the following compounds. Use roman numerals where appropriate. Remember that compounds
which contain nonmetals only need prefixes.
Formula
Name
Formula
Name
RaI2
MgO
AsO4
FeS
AgI
BCl3
ZnCl2
K3P
Cu3P
AuF
PtS
SO3
N2O
Sb2Se3
Answer the following questions:
1. The charge on an element in a compound is called______________________________
2. Metals are_________________ of the staircase
3. Nonmetals are___________________ of the staircase.
4. The simplest form of matter is called:_______
5. The little numbers written below the line in compounds are called:______________
6. The total charge on any compound is:________
7. Chemical combination of two or more elements is called: ___________
8. Used to represent chemical compounds:____________