Inorganic
Nomenclature
Ionic Compounds
Molecular Compounds
Acids
Created by Dr. Dan Branan
Naming Ionic Compounds
Put the positive ion (cation) on the left and the negative ion (anion) on the right:
1.
o
For example: LiCl
Name the compound from left to right, using the full name of the thing on the left and a
2.
modified name of the thing on the right. If the anion (or more electronegative element) is all
by itself, then its name ends with “-ide.”
o
For example: Lithium Chloride
If the anion is a compound ion (like sulfate or perchlorate) then just name it.
3.
o
For example: Li2SO4 is “Lithium Sulfate”
If the cation has a only a single oxidation state (like silver, which only occurs as Ag+, or
4.
the first and second column metals, which are always +1 or +2 ions), then you are
finished.
If the cation has several possible oxidation states (like iron, which can be +2 or +3),
5.
then indicate the CHARGE on it with a Roman numeral.
o
For example: FeCO3 is “Iron (II) carbonate”, but Fe2(CO3)3 is “Iron (III) carbonate”
NEXT: Naming Molecular Compounds
Slide 2 of 5
Naming Molecular Compounds
1.
Put the least electronegative atom (“more cation-like”) on the
left:
o
For example: PBr3 or CO or N2O4
2.
Name the compound from left to right, using the full name of the
thing on the left and a modified name of the thing on the right. If
the more electronegative element is all by itself, then its name
ends with “-ide.”
Indicate how many of each atom there are with Greek
prefixes.
o For example: Phosphorous Tribromide, or Carbon Monoxide,
or Dinitrogen Tetroxide
3.
o
EXCEPTION: No need to use “mon-” or “mono-“ when there is
only one atom on the left.
NEXT: Greek Prefix Chart
Slide 3 of 5
Greek Prefixes
Prefix
Means…
Prefix
Means…
Mono
One
Hexa
Six
Di
Two
Hepta
Seven
Tri
Three
Octa
Eight
Tetra
Four
Nona
Nine
Penta
Five
Deca
Ten
Next: Acids
Slide 4 of 5
Inorganic Acids
1. First, name them as covalent inorganic compounds. Then, find their
acid name:
2. Determine the ending of the anion.
a.) If the anion ends in –ide, the acid is named hydro root -ic acid.
o
HCl (g) is Hydrogen chloride (“chlor” is the root of the name)
o
HCl (aq) is hydrochloric acid
b.) If the anion ends in –ate, drop –ate and add –ic acid to the name.
o
CO32- is carbonate; H2CO3(aq) is carbonic acid
c.) If the anion ends in –ite, drop the –ite and add –ous acid
o
ClO2- is chlorite; HClO2(aq) is chlorous acid
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Slide 5 of 5