Naming Covalent Compounds

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What is a covalent compound?

• A covalent compound is a substance formed when two nonmetals combine

  • Combine by sharing electrons

Naming Rules

1. Name the first element using its full name from the periodic table

2. Modify the second element’s name by using its root and adding the suffix “-ide”

3. Use prefixes to show how many atoms of each element are present

   • Mono-, di-, tri- etc.

4. Combine the names into one word or phrase

• Note:

  • Drop the prefix “mono-” for the first element only

Pre-fixes

• Mono-

  • 1

  • Used only for the second element

• Di-

  • 2

• Tri-

  • 3

• Tetra-

  • 4

• Penta-

  • 5

• Hexa-

  • 6

• Hepta-

  • 7

• Octa-

  • 8

• Nona-

  • 9

• Deca-

  • 10

Try “CO₂”

C → Carbon

O → Oxygen

₂ → Di-

Oxygen → Oxide

O₂ → Dioxide

CO₂ → Carbon Dioxide

Try “CCl”

C → Carbon

Cl → Chloride

₁ → Mono-

Cl₁ → Monochloride

CCl → Carbon Monochloride

Try “SF₆”

S → Sulfur

F → Floride

₆ → Hexa-

F₆ → Hexafluoride

SF₆ → Sulfur Hexafluoride

Try “PCl₃”

P → Phosphorus

Cl → Chloride

₃ → Tri-

Cl₃ → Trichloride

Phosphorus Trichloride

Try “N₂O₅”

N → Nitrogen

₂ → Di-

N₂ → Dinitrogen

O → Oxide

₅ → Penta-

O₅ → Pentoxide

N₂O₅ → Dinitrogen Pentoxide