PREFIX CHEMISTRY PERIODIC TABLE NAMING HOW TO

Because the metal ions in questions a) to f) have a variable charge, we must figure out the charge of the metal ion by ensuring that the total number of positive charges in each compound must equal the total number of negative charges. The anions in these compounds have a fixed negative charge (S 2−, Se 2−, N 3−, Cl −, SO 4 2−, O −2, and F −), and the compounds must be neutral. Table 5. Common Names for Some Metal Ions with Variable ChargesĪ) Fe 2S 3 b) CuSe c) GaN d) CrCl 3 e) Ti 2(SO 4) 3 f) Co 2O 3 g) CaCl 2 h) AlF 3 Knowing both convention remains important. The other fluoride of tin is SnF 4, is now named tin(IV) fluoride but is still often referred to as stannic fluoride. This represents the formula SnF 2, which is also named tin(II) fluoride following the more current convention. For example, you may see the words stannous fluoride on a tube of toothpaste. This older naming convention remains in use by some segments of industry.

Names of Some Transition Metal Ionic CompoundsĪn old naming convention used the suffixes – ic and – ous to designate metals with higher and lower charges, respectively: Iron(III) chloride, FeCl 3, can be called called ferric chloride, and iron(II) chloride, FeCl 2, is also known as ferrous chloride. These two compounds are then unambiguously named iron(II) chloride and iron(III) chloride, respectively. In cases like this, the charge of the metal ion is included as a Roman numeral in parentheses immediately following the metal name. The simplest name, “iron chloride,” will, in this case, be ambiguous, as it does not distinguish between these two compounds. Iron typically exhibits a charge of either 2+ or 3+ (see Figure 2 in Chapter 4.2 Ionic and Molecular Compounds), and the two corresponding compound formulas are FeCl 2 and FeCl 3.

For example, consider binary ionic compounds of iron and chlorine.

The charge of the metal ion is determined from the formula of the compound and the charge of the anion. Compounds of these metals with nonmetals are named with the same method as compounds in the first category, except the charge of the metal ion is specified by a Roman numeral in parentheses after the name of the metal. Most of the transition metals can form two or more cations with different charges. Thus, NaCl = sodium chloride.ī) AlBr 3 consists of aluminum and bromine we call it aluminum bromide.Ī) aluminum sulfide b) zinc sulfide c) magnesium iodide Compounds Containing a Metal Ion with a Variable Charge Na is a Group 1 metal, and thus it forms the cation Na +, called “sodium” ion.Ĭl is a nonmetal, and forms the anion Cl –, chloride. Names of Some Polyatomic Ionic CompoundsĮxample 1 Name the following ionic compounds: a) NaCl b) AlBr 3 c) BaH 2 See Table 1 in Chapter 4.2 Ionic and Molecular Compounds for the list of common polyatomic ions. NaCl, sodium chlorideĬompounds containing polyatomic ions are named similarly to those containing only monatomic ions, except there is no need to change to an – ide ending, since the suffix is already present in the name of the anion. The name of a binary compound containing monatomic ions consists of the name of the cation (the name of the metal) followed by the name of the anion (the name of the nonmetallic element with its ending replaced by the suffix – ide). First, is the compound ionic or molecular? If the compound is ionic, does the metal form ions of only one type (fixed charge) or more than one type (variable charge)? Are the ions monatomic or polyatomic? If the compound is molecular, does it contain hydrogen? If so, does it also contain oxygen? From the answers we derive, we place the compound in an appropriate category and then name it accordingly. To name an inorganic compound, we need to consider the answers to several questions.

The rules for organic compounds, in which carbon is the principle element, will be treated in a later chapter on organic chemistry. We will limit our attention here to inorganic compounds, compounds that are composed principally of elements other than carbon, and will follow the nomenclature guidelines proposed by IUPAC.

PREFIX CHEMISTRY PERIODIC TABLE NAMING HOW TO

The simplest of these are binary compounds, those containing only two elements, but we will also consider how to name ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions, and one specific, very important class of compounds known as acids – subsequent chapters in this text will focus on these compounds in great detail. This module describes an approach that is used to name simple ionic and molecular compounds, such as NaCl, CaCO 3, and N 2O 4. Nomenclature, a collection of rules for naming things, is important in science and in many other situations.

Derive names for common types of inorganic compounds and simple molecular compounds using a systematic approach.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Prefix chemistry periodic table naming