Chapter 5.8 & 5.9 Naming & Formula
Writing for Ionic
Compounds
Naming Binary Ionic Compounds
Binary Ionic Compounds: contain 2 different
elements: metal + non-metal
Name the metal first, then the nonmetal as
-ide.
Examples:
NaCl
sodium chloride
ZnI2
zinc iodide
Al2O3
aluminum oxide
Naming Binary Ionic Compounds
Binary Ionic Compounds: contain 2 different
elements: metal + non-metal
Name the metal first, then the nonmetal as
-ide.
Examples:
NaCl
sodium chloride
ZnI2
zinc iodide
Al2O3
aluminum oxide
Learning Check
Name the following binary compounds:
1. Na3N ________________
2. KBr
________________
3. Al2O3 ________________
4. MgS
________________
Solution
Complete the names of the following binary
compounds:
Na3N
sodium nitride
KBr
potassium bromide
Al2O3
aluminum oxide
MgS
magnesium sulfide
Naming Ionic Compounds
Containing Multi-Valent Ions


Use a roman numeral after the name of a metal
that is multi-valent (i.e. that has more than one
possible charge)
Examples:
FeCl3
(Fe3+)
iron (III) chloride
CuCl
SnF4
PbCl2
Fe2S3
(Cu+ )
(Sn4+)
(Pb2+)
(Fe3+)
copper (I) chloride
tin (IV) fluoride
lead (II) chloride
iron (III) sulfide
Learning Check
Complete the names of the following binary
compounds with multi-valent metal ions:
FeBr2
iron (_____) bromide
Cu2O
copper (_____) oxide
SnCl4
______(_____ )________
Fe2O3
_______(_____)________
CuS
_______(_____)________
Solution
Complete the names of the following binary
compounds with variable metal ions:
FeBr2
iron (II) bromide
Cu2O
copper (I) oxide
SnCl4
tin (IV) chloride
Fe2O3
iron (III) oxide
CuS
copper (II) sulfide
Learning Check
Name the following compounds:
A.
CaO
1) calcium oxide
2) calcium(I) oxide
3) calcium (II) oxide
B.
SnCl4
1) tin tetrachloride
2) tin(II) chloride
3) tin(IV) chloride
C.
Co2O3
1) cobalt oxide
2) cobalt (III) oxide
3) cobalt trioxide
Solution
Name the following compounds:
A.
CaO
1) calcium oxide
B.
SnCl4
3) tin(IV) chloride
C.
Co2O3
2) cobalt (III) oxide
Naming Ternary Ionic Compounds



Contain at least 3 elements
Name the nonmetals as a polyatomic ion
Examples:
NaNO3
Sodium nitrate
K2SO4
Al(HCO3)3
Potassium sulfate
Aluminum bicarbonate
or Aluminum hydrogen carbonate
Learning Check
Match each set with the correct name:
A. Na2CO3
1) magnesium sulfite
MgSO3
2) magnesium sulfate
MgSO4
3) sodium carbonate
B.
Ca(HCO3)2
1) calcium carbonate
CaCO3
Ca3(PO4)2
2) calcium phosphate
3) calcium bicarbonate
Solution
A.
B.
Na2CO3
3) sodium carbonate
MgSO3
1) magnesium sulfite
MgSO4
2) magnesium sulfate
Ca(HCO3)2
3) calcium bicarbonate
CaCO3
Ca3(PO4)2
1) calcium carbonate
2) calcium phosphate
Learning Check
A. aluminum nitrate
1) AlNO3
2) Al(NO)3
3) Al(NO3)3
B. copper(II) nitrate
1) CuNO3
2) Cu(NO3)2
C. Iron (III) hydroxide
3) Cu2(NO3)
1) FeOH
2) Fe3OH
D. Tin(IV) hydroxide
3) Fe(OH)3
1) Sn(OH)4
2) Sn(OH)2
3) Sn4(OH)
Solution
A. aluminum nitrate
3) Al(NO3)3
B. copper(II) nitrate
2) Cu(NO3)2
C. Iron (III) hydroxide
3) Fe(OH)3
D. Tin(IV) hydroxide
1) Sn(OH)4
Formula Writing For Ionic Compounds
(using magnesium chloride as an example)

Step 1: Write the symbol with the ionic charge for the metal
ion followed by the non-metal ion.

Mg 2+ Cl 1-

Step 2: Use the “criss-cross” rule to place subscripts beside
opposing ions – this will ensure an overall charge of zero in
the ionic formula.

Mg1 Cl2

Step 3: Simplfy (if possible)

Mg Cl2 (subscripts of 1 are not shown)
Formula Writing For Ionic
Compounds

E.g. 2 Write the chemical formula for aluminum nitrate.
 Step 1:
Al 3+ NO3 1 Step 2:
Al 1 Cl 3
 Step 3:
Al Cl3

E.g. 3 Write the chemical formula for calcium oxide.
 Step 1:
Ca 2+ O 2 Step 2:
Ca 2 O 2 * both subscripts divisible by two
 Step 3:
Ca O
Formula Writing For Ionic
Compounds

E.g. 4 Write the chemical formula for iron (III) oxide.
 Step 1:
Fe 3+ O 2 Step 2:
Fe2 O3
 Step 3:
Fe2 O3

E.g. 5 Write the chemical formula for calcium sulfate
 Step 1:
Ca 2+ SO4 2 Step 2:
Ca 2 (SO4) 2
 Step 3:
CaSO4
Formula Writing For Ionic
Compounds

E.g. 6 Write the chemical formula for barium phosphate.
 Step 1:
Ba 2+ PO4 3 Step 2:
Ba3 (PO4)2
 Step 3:
Ba3 (PO4)2

E.g. 7 Write the chemical formula for aluminum
tripolyphosphate.



Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Al 3+ P3O10 5Al 5 (P3O10) 3
Al 5 (P3O10) 3
Homework:


Q.1-9 p.195.
Q.1-7 p.198.