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 elements1. 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

Al O-23 2

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

Root of Non-metal)( -ide

Metal’s Oxidation State as a Roman Numeral)(

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 electronThere is only one iridium in this compoundTherefore, 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

Hg N-32 3

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

Ca IO2-12 1( )

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

Name of Polyatomic Ion

Metal’s Oxidation State as a Roman Numeral )(

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

-42 4Fe(CN)6Ni ( )

2

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 presentOne – mono-

Two – di-

Three – tri-

Four – tetra-

Five – penta-

Six – hexa-

Seven – hepta-

Eight – octa-

Nine – nona

Ten – deca

Covalent Rule 1: Nonmetals Bound to Nonmetals

Using prefixes The prefix mono- is only used on the second

elementEx: PF3 is named phosphorus trifluoride

If two vowels are adjacent, leave themEx: 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 acidWater (H2O) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are noteworthy exceptions

Hydro- Root of Non-metal)( -ic acid

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 acidhydrochloric 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

Ions ending in -ite

acidRoot of Polyatomic Ion( -ic)

acidRoot of

Polyatomic Ion( -ous)

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 acidAlso, 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 acidAlso, 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 -ateWe 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.

H AlO3-31 3

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