Nomenclature

Acids - start with an H

• H (s) + Anion

• if the anion name ends with an -ate then the acid is named -c acid

  • HNO3 contains the nitrate anions so it would be named nitric acid

• if the anion name ends with -ite then the acid is named -ous acid

  • H2SO3 contains the sulfide so it would be named sulfurous acid

• if the anion name ends with -ide then the acid is named hydro—ic acid

  • HCl contains the chloride anion so it would be named hydrochloric acid

Ionic - metals + nonmetals

• cation + anion

• name the cation first using a roman numeral if the ion forms multiple charges and name the anion second

  • KBr = potassium bromide

  • KNO3 = potassium nitrate

  • CuNO3 = copper (I) nitrate

  • Cu(NO3)2 = copper (II) nitrate

Binary molecular - two nonmetals

• two nonmetals

• nonmetals can combine in many different ratios so the name needs to describe the amount of each element that are present in the formula

• prefix list

  • mono = 1

  • di = 2

  • tri = 3

  • tetra = 4

  • penta = 5

  • hexa = 6

  • hepta = 7

  • octa = 8

  • nona = 9

  • deca = 10

• use the prefix to indicate the number then name the first element (drop the o or a if the element starts with a vowel)

• then use the prefix to indicate the number and name the second element, change the suffix of the second element to -ide

  • PCl3 = Phosphorus trichloride

  • N2O4 = Dinitrogen tetroxide

  • N2O = Dinitrogen monoxide