Naming Inorganic
Compounds
There are 3 main types of Bonding
1. Ionic
2. Covalent
3. Metallic
Each Type of Bonding deals with a
different combination of elements
1. Ionic: Metal + Nonmetal
2. Covalent: Nonmetal + Nonmetal
3. Metallic: Metal + Metal
Ionic Rule 1: Metals with a Single
Oxidation Number Bound to Non-Metals
The metal will take its positive oxidation
number and the non-metal will have to
take its negative oxidation number.

Only one compound can be formed
Name of
Metal
(
Root of
Non-metal
)
-ide
Ionic Rule 1: Metals with a Single
Oxidation Number Bound to Non-Metals
Example 1: Sodium reacts with oxygen to
produce Na2O, what is the name of this
compound

Since there is only one possible compound,
we do not have to indicate the number of
elements
sodium oxide
Ionic Rule 1: Metals with a Single
Oxidation Number Bound to Non-Metals
Example 2: What is the chemical formula
for aluminum oxide



First write the symbols of the elements
Next write the oxidation number of each
element above that element
Switch the oxidation numbers and reduce
3
-2
2
Al O
Comprehension Check
What is the name of Mg3N2?

magnesium nitride
What is the name of Li2Se?

lithium selenide
What is the formula for indium chloride?

InCl3
What is the formula for potassium
phosphide?

K3P
Ionic Rule 2: Metals with Multiple
Oxidation Numbers Bound to Non-Metals
The metal will take one of its positive
oxidation numbers and the non-metal will
have to take its negative oxidation number.


Since the metal has more than one possible
oxidation number, multiple compounds can be
formed
We need a distinct name for each
Name of
Metal
(
Metal’s Oxidation State
as a Roman Numeral
)(
Root of
Non-metal
)
-ide
Ionic Rule 2: Metals with Multiple
Oxidation Numbers Bound to Non-Metals
Example 1: What is the name of IrBr6?

First we need to determine how many electrons
that iridium needs to lose in order to satisfy 6
bromine atoms.
Each bromine needs one electron
There is only one iridium in this compound
Therefore, the iridium atom will have to supply all six
electrons, giving it a +6 oxidation number.
iridium(VI) bromide
Ionic Rule 2: Metals with Multiple
Oxidation Numbers Bound to Non-Metals
Example 2: What is the formula for
mercury(II) nitride?



First write the symbols of the elements
Next write the oxidation number of each
element above that element
Switch the oxidation numbers and reduce
2
-3
3
Hg N
Comprehension Check
What is the name of RuN?

ruthenium(III) nitride
What is the name of MnO3

manganese(VI) oxide
What is the formula for paladium(IV)
bromide?

PdBr4
What is the formula for molybdenum(V)
sulfide?

Mo2S5
Ionic Rule 3: Metals with a single Oxidation
Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
Polyatomic Ions – strongly bound group of
atoms that have either lost or gained
electrons and become charged.




List of common Polyatomic Ions are on the back
of your Periodic Table
Polyatomic ions act as a single atom, with a
single name
Subscripts within the ion cannot be changed
Since there is only one oxidation number for the
metals and Polyatomic Ion, only one compound
can be produced.
Ionic Rule 3 : Metals with a single Oxidation
Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
Naming these compounds is just like rule
1, except we do not add –ide to the end of
the polyatomic ion
Name of
Metal
(
Name of
Polyatomic Ion
)
Ionic Rule 3 : Metals with a single Oxidation
Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the name of Mg(NO3)2



First, you should recognize that there are
more than two elements involved, which
means that a Polyatomic Ion is involved
Next, look up the Metal in the periodic table
and confirm that it has a single oxidation
number
Look up the name of the Polyatomic Ion
magnesium nitrate
Ionic Rule 3 : Metals with a single Oxidation
Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the formula for calcium iodite?




First, since the second name does not end in
–ide, a polyatomic ion is involved.
Write the symbol for calcium and formula for
iodite.
Write the oxidation numbers above the metal
and the polyatomic ion
Switch the numbers, and use parenthesis
around the polyatomic ion if necessary
2
-1
1
Ca (IO2 )
Comprehension Check
What is the name of KHSO4?


potassium hydrogen sulfate
potassium bisulfate
What is the name of In2(C2O4)3?

indium oxalate
What is the formula of strontium bromate?

Sr(BrO3)2
What is the formula for germanium
phosphate?

Ge3(PO4)4
Ionic Rule 4: Metals with Multiple Oxidation
Numbers Bound to Polyatomic Ions
When the metal has more than one
possible oxidation number, more than one
compound can be formed

We must use Roman Numerals to indicate
which oxidation number the metal is using
Name of
Metal
(
Metal’s Oxidation State
Name of
as a Roman Numeral Polyatomic Ion
)
Ionic Rule 4 : Metals with Multiple Oxidation
Numbers Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the name of RhSO4?


First, there are more than two elements involved
Look up the oxidation and name of SO4
Sulfate (-2)

Finally, figure out which oxidation number the
metal is using.
There is only one rhodium, so it must account for all of
the electrons & would have to take a +2 oxidation
number
rhodium (II) sulfate
Ionic Rule 4 : Metals with Multiple Oxidation
Numbers Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the formula for nickel(II) ferrocyanide?




First, since the second name does not end in -ide, a
polyatomic ion is involved
Write the symbol for nickel and formula for
ferrocyanide
Write the oxidation numbers above the metal and the
polyatomic ion
Switch the numbers, and use parenthesis around the
polyatomic ion if necessary and reduce
2
-4
4
Ni 2(Fe(CN)6)
Comprehension Check
What is the name of Cr(IO)3?

chromium(III) hypoiodite
What is the name of CuMnO4?

copper(II) manganate or copper(I) permanganate
What is the formula for palladium(IV)
ferricyanide?

Pd3(Fe(CN)6)4
What is the formula for molybdenum(VI)
dichormate?

Mo(Cr2O7)3
Covalent Rule 1: Nonmetals Bound
to Nonmetals
Since nonmetals have more than one
oxidation number, there will always be
more than one compound produced


Therefore we have to have a distinct name for
each compound
To do this we use a prefix to indicate how
many atoms of each element are present
One – mono-
Five – penta-
Two – di-
Six – hexa-
Three – tri-
Seven – hepta-
Four – tetra-
Eight – octa-
Nine – nona
Ten – deca
Covalent Rule 1: Nonmetals Bound
to Nonmetals
Using prefixes

The prefix mono- is only used on the second
element
Ex: PF3 is named phosphorus trifluoride

If two vowels are adjacent, leave them
Ex: NI3 is named nitrogen triiodide

In the case of monoxide only, drop one “o”
Covalent Rule 1: Nonmetals Bound
to Nonmetals
Ex 1: What is the name of P2S3?

diphosphorus trisulfide
Ex 2: What is the name of As7I3?

heptaarsenic triiodide
Ex 3: What is the chemical formula of
dihydrogen monoxide?

H2O
Ex 4: What is the chemical formula of
dinitrogen pentaoxide?

N2O5
Rule 1: Binary Acids
Acid – any compound that is capable of
giving up a positive hydrogen ion (proton)


Strength of acid depends on how easily the
hydrogen ion is released
Anytime a compound starts with H, the
compound is typically an acid
Water (H2O) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are
noteworthy exceptions
(
Hydro-
Root of
-ic acid
Non-metal
)
Rule 1: Binary Acids
Ex 1: What is the name of HCl?


Since the compound starts with H, it is
probably an acid.
Use the prefix hydro-, the suffix -ic, and the
word acid
hydrochloric acid
Comprehension Check
What is the name of HAt?

hydroastatic acid
What is the name of HBr?

hydrobromic acid
What is the formula for hydroiodic acid?

HI
What is the formula for hydrofluoric acid?

HF
Rule 2: Polyatomic Acids
Identifying Polyatomic Acids


Formula will start with H
Has three or more elements
Naming depends on the ending of the
Polyatomic Ion

Ions ending in -ate or -ide
Root of
-ic acid
Polyatomic Ion
(

)
Ions ending in -ite
Root of
Polyatomic Ion
(
) -ous
acid
Rule 2: Polyatomic Acids
Ex 1: What is the name of H3PO4?

First, notice that since the compound starts
with H, we are dealing with an acid
Also, there are more than two elements; we should
think polyatomic ion


Next, look up the name of the polyatomic ion
Since phosphate ends in -ate, change the
suffix to -ic and add the word “acid.”
phosphoric acid
Rule 2: Polyatomic Acids
Ex 2: What is the name of H3PO3?

First, notice that since the compound starts
with H, we are dealing with an acid
Also, there are more than two elements; we should
think polyatomic ion


Next, look up the name of the polyatomic ion
Since phosphite ends in -ite, change the suffix
to -ous and add the word “acid.”
phosphorous acid
Rule 2: Polyatomic Acids
Ex 3: What is the formula for aluminic acid?


Since there is no hydro prefix, we know that this
must be a polyatomic acid.
Next, the -ic ending means that the ion must
really end in -ate
We must be looking of the aluminate ion


Because this is an acid, hydrogen will be
involved
Write the symbols and oxidation numbers, switch
the oxidation numbers, and reduce.
1
3
-3
H AlO3
Comprehension Check
What is the formula for manganic acid?

H2MnO4
What is the formula for sulfurous acid?

H2SO3
What is the name of HNO2?

nitrous acid
What is the name of HNO3?

nitric acid