Naming Inorganic Compounds

Rule 1: Metals from Group Number 1, 2, 3 Bound to Non-MetalsThe 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

Rule 1: Metals from Group Number 1, 2, 3 Bound to Non-MetalsExample 1: Sodium reacts with oxygen to produce Na2O, what is the name of this compoundSince there is only one possible compound, we do not have to indicate the number of elements sodium oxide

Rule 1: Rule 1: Metals from Group Number 1, 2, 3 Bound to Non-MetalsExample 2: What is the chemical formula for aluminum oxideFirst write the symbols of the elementsNext write the oxidation number of each element above that elementSwitch the oxidation numbers and reduce-232

Comprehension CheckWhat is the name of Mg3N2?magnesium nitrideWhat is the name of Li2Se?lithium selenideWhat is the formula for indium chloride?InCl3What is the formula for barium phosphide?Ba3P2

Rule 2: Transition Metals Bound to Non-MetalsTransition metals may have more than one oxidation numberThe 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 formedWe need a distinct name for each

Rule 2: Transition Metals Bound to Non-MetalsExample 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

Rule 2: Transition Metals Bound to Non-MetalsExample 2: What is the formula for mercury (II) nitride?First write the symbols of the elementsNext write the oxidation number of each element above that elementSwitch the oxidation numbers and reduce-323

Comprehension CheckWhat is the name of RuN?ruthenium(III) nitrideWhat is the name of MnO3manganese(VI) oxideWhat is the formula for paladium(IV) bromide?PdBr4What is the formula for molybdenum(V) sulfide?Mo2S5

Rule 3: Nonmetals Bound to NonmetalsUsing prefixesThe prefix mono- is only used on the second elementEx: PF3 is named phosphorus trifluorideIf two vowels are adjacent, leave themEx: NI3 is named nitrogen triiodideIn the case of monoxide only, drop one o

Rule 3: Nonmetals Bound to NonmetalsSince nonmetals have more than one oxidation number, there will always be more than one compound producedTherefore we have to have a distinct name for each compoundTo 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-

Rule 3: Nonmetals Bound to NonmetalsEx 1: What is the name of P2S3?diphosphorus trisulfideEx 2: What is the name of As7I3?heptaarsenic triiodideEx 3: What is the chemical formula of dihydrogen monoxide?H2OEx 4: What is the chemical formula of dinitrogen pentaoxide?N2O5

Rule 4: Metals from Groups 1, 2, 3 Bound to Polyatomic IonsPolyatomic 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 TablePolyatomic ions act as a single atom, with a single nameSubscripts within the ion cannot be changedSince there is only one oxidation number for the metals and Polyatomic Ion, only one compound can be produced.

Rule 4: Metals with a single Oxidation Number Bound to Polyatomic IonsNaming these compounds is just like rule 1, except we do not add ide to the end of the polyatomic ion

Rule 4: Metals with a single Oxidation Number Bound to Polyatomic IonsWhat is the name of Mg(NO3)2First, you should recognize that there are more than two elements involved, which means that a Polyatomic Ion is involvedNext, look up the Metal in the periodic table and confirm that it has a single oxidation numberLook up the name of the Polyatomic Ion

magnesium nitrate

Rule 4: Metals with a single Oxidation Number Bound to Polyatomic IonsWhat 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 ionSwitch the numbers, and use parenthesis around the polyatomic ion if necessary-121( )

Comprehension CheckWhat is the name of KHSO4?potassium hydrogen sulfatepotassium bisulfateWhat is the name of In2(C2O4)3?indium oxalateWhat is the formula of strontium bromate?Sr(BrO3)2What is the formula for germanium phosphate?Ge3(PO4)4

Rule 5: Transition Metals Bound to Polyatomic IonsWhen the metal has more than one possible oxidation number, more than one compound can be formedWe must use Roman Numerals to indicate which oxidation number the metal is using

Rule 5: Transition Metals Bound to Polyatomic IonsWhat is the name of RhMnO4?First, there are more than two elements involvedLook up the oxidation and name of MnO4It could be permanganate (-1) or manganate (-2) Finally, figure out which oxidation number the metal is using.If this is permanganate, rhodium would have to have a +1 oxidation number, this is not possible for rhodium.Therefore, this must be manganate, so rhodium would have to take its +2 oxidation number rhodium(II) manganate

Rule 5: Metals with Multiple Oxidation Numbers Bound to Polyatomic IonsWhat is the formula for nickel (II) ferrocyanide?First, since the second name does not end in -ide, a polyatomic ion is involvedWrite the symbol for nickel and formula for ferrocyanideWrite the oxidation numbers above the metal and the polyatomic ionSwitch the numbers, and use parenthesis around the polyatomic ion if necessary and reduce-424( ) 2

Comprehension CheckWhat is the name of Cr(IO)3?chromium(III) hypoioditeWhat is the name of CuMnO4?copper(II) manganate or copper(I) permanganate What is the formula for palladium(IV) ferricyanide?Pd3(Fe(CN)6)4What is the formula for molybdenum(VI) dichormate?Mo(Cr2O7)3

Rule 6: Binary AcidsAcid any compound that is capable of giving up a positive hydrogen ion (proton)Strength of acid depends on how easily the hydrogen ion is releasedAnytime a compound starts with H, the compound is typically an acidWater (H2O) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are noteworthy exceptions

Rule 6: Binary AcidsEx 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 CheckWhat is the name of HAt?hydroastatic acidWhat is the name of HBr?hydrobromic acidWhat is the formula for hydroiodic acid?HIWhat is the formula for hydrofluoric acid?HF

Rule 7: Polyatomic AcidsIdentifying Polyatomic AcidsFormula will start with H Has three or more elementsNaming depends on the ending of the Polyatomic ionIons ending in -ate or -ide

Ions ending in -ite

Rule 7: Polyatomic AcidsEx 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 ionSince phosphate ends in -ate, change the suffix to -ic and add the word acid.

phosphoric acid

Rule 7: Polyatomic AcidsEx 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 ionSince phosphite ends in -ite, change the suffix to -ous and add the word acid.

phosphorous acid

Rule 7: Polyatomic AcidsEx 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 ionBecause this is an acid, hydrogen will be involvedWrite the symbols and oxidation numbers, switch the oxidation numbers, and reduce.-313

Comprehension CheckWhat is the formula for manganic acid?H2MnO4What is the formula for sulfurous acid?H2SO3What is the name of HNO2?nitrous acidWhat is the name of HNO3?nitric acid

**