Chemical Nomenclature: Ionic Compounds and Covalent Molecules

Vocabulary terms and nomenclature rules for naming ionic compounds and covalent molecules based on lecture notes.

Ionic compound naming rule

Name the metal first, followed by the non-metal ending in "-ide".

Transition metal naming rule

Include a Roman numeral in parentheses after the metal to specify its charge.

Polyatomic ion naming rule

Use the special group name, usually ending in "-ate" or "-ite", without changing the ending to "-ide".

Covalent molecule naming rule

Use Greek prefixes to specify the count of each non-metal atom, ending the second element in "-ide".

Greek numerical prefixes

Nomenclature prefixes for atom counts: mono- ($1$), di- ($2$), tri- ($3$), tetra- ($4$), penta- ($5$), and hexa- ($6$).

"-ide" suffix

The ending added to the non-metal in binary ionic compounds and to the second element in covalent molecules.

"-ate" and "-ite" suffixes

The standard endings used for polyatomic ions.

Composition of an ionic compound

A metal combined with a non-metal.

Composition of a covalent molecule

Two or more non-metals bonded together.

Mono-

Greek prefix representing one atom.

Di-

Greek prefix representing two atoms.

Tri-

Greek prefix representing three atoms.

Tetra-

Greek prefix representing four atoms.

Penta-

Greek prefix representing five atoms.

Hexa-

Greek prefix representing six atoms.

Chemical name of $NaCl$

Sodium chloride

Chemical name of $K_2O$

Potassium oxide

Chemical name of $FeCl_2$

Iron(II) chloride

Chemical name of $FeCl_3$

Iron(III) chloride

Chemical name of $Na_2SO_4$

Sodium sulfate

Chemical name of $N_2O_4$

Dinitrogen tetraoxide

Chemical name of $PCl_3$

Phosphorus trichloride

Ionic compound naming rule

Name the metal first, followed by the non-metal ending in "-ide".

Transition metal naming rule

Include a Roman numeral in parentheses after the metal to specify its charge.

Polyatomic ion naming rule

Use the special group name, usually ending in "-ate" or "-ite", without changing the ending to "-ide".

Covalent molecule naming rule

Use Greek prefixes to specify the count of each non-metal atom, ending the second element in "-ide".

Greek numerical prefixes

Nomenclature prefixes for atom counts: mono- ($1$), di- ($2$), tri- ($3$), tetra- ($4$), penta- ($5$), and hexa- ($6$).

"-ide" suffix

The ending added to the non-metal in binary ionic compounds and to the second element in covalent molecules.

"-ate" and "-ite" suffixes

The standard endings used for polyatomic ions.

Composition of an ionic compound

A metal combined with a non-metal.

Composition of a covalent molecule

Two or more non-metals bonded together.

Mono-

Greek prefix representing one atom.

Di-

Greek prefix representing two atoms.

Tri-

Greek prefix representing three atoms.

Tetra-

Greek prefix representing four atoms.

Penta-

Greek prefix representing five atoms.

Hexa-

Greek prefix representing six atoms.

Chemical name of $NaCl$

Sodium chloride

Chemical name of $K_2O$

Potassium oxide

Chemical name of $FeCl_2$

Iron(II) chloride

Chemical name of $FeCl_3$

Iron(III) chloride

Chemical name of $Na_2SO_4$

Sodium sulfate

Chemical name of $N_2O_4$

Dinitrogen tetraoxide

Chemical name of $PCl_3$

Phosphorus trichloride

Synthesis reaction

A chemical reaction where two elements combine into a single stable compound ($A + B \rightarrow AB$).

Predicting products of a synthesis reaction

Combine the elements into a single compound, balancing ion charges if the product is ionic.

Decomposition reaction

A chemical reaction where one compound breaks down into its individual elements ($AB \rightarrow A + B$).

Key precaution for decomposition reactions

Ensure that diatomic elements like $O_2$, $H_2$, and $Cl_2$ are written correctly as diatomic molecules.

Single displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where a single element replaces another element in a compound ($A + BC \rightarrow AC + B$).

Activity series rule in single displacement

Element $A$ can only displace element $B$ if $A$ is positioned higher on the activity series than $B$.

Double displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where two compounds swap positive ions ($AB + CD \rightarrow AD + CB$).

Condition for a double displacement reaction to occur

At least one of the resulting products must be insoluble ($(s)$) according to the solubility table.