2.8: acids

binary vs. nonbinary acids

  • binary acid: a compound in which hydrogen is bonded to a different nonmetal (not oxygen)
  • naming binary acids
      * start with prefix “hydro-”
      * change ending of other element to “-ic”
      * add “acid” to the end
        * eg. HCl = hydrochloric acid
  • nonbinary acid: a compound in which hydrogen is bonded to a polyatomic ion
  • naming nonbinary acids
      * do not add the prefix “hydro-” (that is specific to binary acids)
      * determine the name of the polyatomic anion on the acid; if the anion ends in:
      * “-ate”: change the ending of the anion to “-ic”
      * “-ite”: change the ending of teh anion to “-ous)
      * end the name with “acid”
      * exceptions: phosphorous acid, sulfuric acid