Chemical Nomenclature
Formula to Name
BaBr2
barium bromide
Na2SO4
sodium sulfate
(NH4)3PO4
ammonium phosphate
PCl3
phosphorus trichloride
Sn(NO3)4
tin(IV) nitrate or stannic nitrate
Al2(CO3)3
aluminum carbonate
Chemical Nomenclature
Name to Formula
potassium sulfide
K1+ S2–
K2S
Mg2+ HCO31–
magnesium hydrogen carbonate
dichlorine oxide
Mg(HCO3)2
Cl2O
copper(II) nitrite
Cu2+
NO21–
Cu(NO2)2
zinc phosphate
Zn2+
PO43–
Zn3(PO4)2
tetrasulfur dinitride
S4N2
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #1
(6 points)
1. Give a chemical name for the following compounds.
a. Na2S
b. SO3
c. Mg(NO3)2
2. Write the formula for each of the following compounds.
a. Phosphorus tribromide
b. Calcium iodide
c. Iron(II) phosphate
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #1 (Answer Key)
1. Give a chemical name for the following compounds.
a. Na2S
sodium sulfide
This is a binary compound composed of a metal and a
nonmetal. The –ide ending indicates a binary compound.
Because sodium has only a charge of only 1+ and sulfide
is 2–, there is only one formula for sodium sulfide.
b. SO3
sulfur trioxide
This is a binary compound composed of two nonmetals.
The –ide ending indicates a binary compound and with
two nonmetals, the number of atoms must also be given.
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #1 (Answer Key)
1. c. Mg(NO3)2
magnesium nitrate
The name magnesium can be used since the magnesium ion
has a fixed charge (2+). Since the nitrate ion has a charge of
1-, the formula must have 2 nitrate ions and no prefix is
required.
2. Write the formula for each of the following compounds.
a. Phosphorus tribromide
PBr3
This is a binary compound composed of two nonmetals.
In this case the name gives both the name and the number
for each of the two elements in the compound. The first element
is phosphorus and there is one, and the second element
(indicated by the one ending in –ide) is bromine, and there
are three.
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #1 (Answer Key)
2. b. Calcium iodide
CaI2
This is a binary compound, composed of a metal and a
nonmetal. The –ide ending indicates a binary compound.
With a metal and a nonmetal no prefixes indicating the
number of atoms are required. Calcium has only one charge
(2+) and the iodide ion is 1–, so two iodide ions are needed
To balance the 2+ of the calcium ion.
c. Iron(II) phosphate
Fe3(PO4)2
The iron(II) ion has a charge of 2+ and the
charge of the phosphate ion is 3-. Therefore, the
formula will require 3 iron (II) ions (total charge
of 6+) to go with 2 phosphate ions (total charge of 6-)
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #2
(6 points)
1. Give a chemical name for the following compounds.
a. N2O5
b. Fe3N2
c. Ba(OH)2
2. Write the formula for each of the following compounds.
a. Zinc bromide
b. Ammonium carbonate
c. Lead(IV) sulfate
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #2 (Answer Key)
1. Give a chemical name for the following compounds.
a. N2O5
dinitrogen pentoxide
This is a binary compound composed of two nonmetals.
The –ide ending indicates a binary compound and with
two nonmetals, the number of atoms must also be given,
di- for two nitrogens and pent- for five oxygens.
b. Fe3N2 Iron(II) nitride
This is a binary compound composed of a metal and a
nonmetal. The –ide ending indicates a binary compound.
Because iron has two possible charges (2+ and 3+), the
name must indicate which one is present. The nitride ion
is always 3– and since there are two nitride ions in the
compound, the total negative is 6–. The charge on the
iron therefore is 2+ (3 x 2+ = 6+)
Chemistry 205
Chemical Nomenclature Bonus Quiz #2 (Answer Key)
1. c. Ba(OH)2
barium hydroxide
The name barium can be used since the barium ion
has a fixed charge (2+). Since the hydroxide ion has a charge
of 1-, the formula must have two hydroxide ions and no prefix
is required.
2. Write the formula for each of the following compounds.
a. Zinc bromide
ZnBr2
This is a binary compound composed of a metal and a
nonmetal. Since the zinc ion has a fixed charge of 2+
and the bromide ion has a fixed charge of 1–, the formula
For the compound will contain one zinc ion (1 x 2+ = 2+)
And two bromide ions (2 x 1– = 2–).