Naming Covalent Compounds

Covalent compound -> nonmetal + nonmetal

Covalent compounds — Naming

1. name the last most element in the formula 1st. Add the correct prefix for the numbers of atoms. If the first element only has one atom, do not add a prefix.

2. Name the second element, making sure to change the ending to “IDE”. Add the correct prefix for the number of atoms.

3. write the final formula

Covalent compounds — Writing

1. Determine the number of atoms of the left most element from prefix. Write the symbol of with the Number of atoms as a subscript

2. determine the number of atoms in the second element. Write the symbol with the number of atoms as a subscript.

3. write the formula for the compound

Ex. N2O → dinitrogen monoxide

Prefixes

1 → mono 6 → hexa

2 → di 7 → hepta

3 → tri 8 → octa

4 → tetra 9 → nona

5 → penta 10 → deca

Special Cases of Covalent Molecules

Diatomic

H2, O2, F2, Br2, I2, N2, Cl2

Tetratomic

D4

Octatomic

S8