name the metal first, and written as it appears on the periodic table
change the ending of the nonmetal to -IDE
if the metal is multivalent, use a roman numeral to specify the charge on the metal cation. if the metal is monovalent, the charge is not specified with a roman numeral
eg. NaCl = sodium chloride (sodium is monovalent)
eg. CuO = copper (II) oxide (copper is multivalent)
the charges of each element must add to 0
binary ionic formulas
the positive ion (the metal) is always written first in a formula
the sum of the charges must equal zero—the total positive charge on the positive ion(s) must equal the total negative charge on the negative ion(s)