Compounds: Naming and Writing

Writing Basics: 1. You will encounter 2 kinds of compounds a. Binary compounds : combination of 2 single ions b. Ternary compounds : combination of 2 polyatomic ions or single ion and a polyatomic ion 2. We always write the + ion first before the ion. The left side is always a positive ion and the right side is always a negative ion. 3. The charge of the + ion is the subscript of the ion and vice versa. We call this the cross charge method.

Na+1 + O-2 = Na2O

4. If its a ternary compound which is a combination of a single ion and a polyatomic ion we enclose the polyatomic ion in a parenthesis then cross the charge.

Ca+2 + PO4

-3

= Ca3(PO4)2

5. If they have the same numerical charge, we cancel them and simplify them to 1. When we have a value of 1 for the charge we dont write 1 anymore as a subscript.

Mg+2 + S-2 = MgS Al

+3

+ PO3

-3

= AlPO3

6. If the charges could be simplified, simplify them then write the new values as the subscripts

Sr+2 = 1 + C

-4 = 2

= Sr2C
-4 = 2

Ra +2 = 1 + SiO4

= Ra2SiO

Writing them back to ions: **From compounds back to ions we just simply reverse the cross charge method. **It will be helpful if you know the charges of the involved ions.

Ga2O3 = Ga Li2S = Li
+1 the value is one.)

+3

+O
-2

-2

+S

(it is understood that if there are no values written, it means

GeO2 = Ge+4 + O-2

(For these cases, identify the oxidation numbers of the ions, they might be simplified so better trace their values first) ** Identifying the ions of ternary compounds could be confusing but here are some tips. 1. Most of the + ions are single ions except for ammonium (NH4+1) and hydronium (H3O+1), if you didnt encounter this 2 ions in the compound, then expect to have a single positive ion. 2. The first element in the compound is the + ion then its subscript is the charge of the negative ion. 3. After the first element, if there are 2 or more elements then you can say it is a polyatomic ion. If its in a parenthesis the subscript written outside the parenthesis is the charge of the positive ion. If there is no parenthesis the charge of the positive ion is 1.

Al2(SO4)3 = Al+3 + SO4

-2

Na3BO3 = Na+1 + BO3

Naming Compounds

-3

General Rules: The first elements first letter is written in capital letters then the 2nd would be in small letters The cross charge method is always observed in identifying the symbol The first ion is always positive and the 2nd is always negative For oxyanions: o Per (short for hyper) is used as a prefix for the highest value available then it would have a suffix ate. Like in perchlorate (ClO4) o Ate is used as a suffix for higher values. Like in phosphate (PO4) and sulfate (SO4) o Ite is used as a suffix for lower values. Like in phosphite (PO3) and sulfite (SO3) o Hypo is used as a prefix for the lowest value available then it would have a suffix ite. Like in hypochlorite (ClO) A. Binary Salts: Single Metal ion + single negative ion Rule:

Ex:

The metal ions name is retained We take the stem of the negative ion then add the suffix ide The ide suffix indicates a single negative ion, an exemption would be hydroxide (OH). Sodium chloride NaCl Calcium hydride CaH2 Aluminum bromide AlBr3

B. Ternary Salts: Metal ion + negative polyatomic ion Rule: Ex: Both names are retained Beryllium sulfate BeSO4 Calcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 Aluminum acetate Al(C2H3O2)3 Lithium nitrite LiNO2 C. Metal ions with more than 2 O.N.s C.1. Classical Method Rule: The metal ion would either use its Latin or English name Only applicable to the first 2 lower ON of the metal ion (like manganese that has 4 ONs it will only be applicable to +2 and +3 charges) Get the stem of the metal ion then add ic for the higher ON then ous for the lower ON Negative ions will just follow previous rules Ferric oxide = Fe2O3 (Fe +3 and O -2) Ferrous oxide = FeO (Fe +2 and O -2) Plumbic sulfate = Pb(SO4)2 (Pb +4 and SO4 -2) Plumbous sulfite = PbSO3 (Pb +2 and SO3 -2) Manganic sulfide = Mn2S3 (Mn +3 and S -2) Manganous sulfide = MnS (Mn +2 and S -2)

Ex:

C.2. Stock Method Rule: Applicable to all ON of metal ions The English names of metal ions are used The ONs are written in Roman Numerals enclosed in a parenthesis after the name of the metal ion Then same rules will apply for the negative ions Mercury (I) oxide = Hg2O Mercury (II) oxide = HgO Lead (II) acetate = Pb(C2H3O2)2

Ex:

Lead (IV) carbide = PbC (Pb+4 and C+4) D. Binary Non-metals: Non-metal to non-metal Rule:

We use greek prefixes and place them in front of the elements name We follow the same rules for naming binary salts, retain the name of the first element and for the 2 element get the stem then add ide to indicate it is a binary compound. The greek prefix is then added to indicate the number of atoms present in the compound. Carbon monoxide = CO Trinitrogen tetrasulfide = N3S4 Carbon tetrachloride = CCl4 Tetranitrogen hexoxide = N4O6 Carbon heptasulfide = CS7

Ex:

Rules of grammar are applied here, when a is followed by a vowel sound (like o) we drop a. same rule will apply for o followed by o (Ex: heptoxide = O7, monoxide = O) If the first element has only one atom, mono is not written anymore.

E. Binary acids: Hydrogen + single ion Rule:

Ex:

Dry form: Just follow the standard metal non-metal naming method (Hydrogen + stem of negative ion + ide) Aqueous form: Add stem Hydro + stem of single ion + ic and the word acid. Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen chloride (Dry Form) = Hydrochloric acid (Aqueous Form) = HCl bromide (DF) = Hydrobromic acid (AF) = HBr sulfide (DF) = Hydrosulfuric acid (AF) = H2S iodide (DF) = Hydroiodic acid (AF) = HI

The stem for sulfur is not used in acid form but taken as a whole, like hydrosulfuric and sulfuric acids.

F. Ternary acids: Hydrogen + poly atomic ion Rule:

Ex:

Dry form: Hydrogen and polyatomic ions name are retained Aqueous form: we change the suffix ate to ic and ite to ous then add acid Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen sulfate (DF) = Sulfuric acid (AF) = H2SO4 sulfite (DF) = Sulfurous acid (AF) = H2SO3 nitrate (DF) = Nitric acid (AF) = HNO3 nitrite (DF) = Nitrous acid (AF) = HNO2 acetate (DF) = Acetic acid (AF) = HC2H3O2

G. Bases: Metal ion + hydroxide (OH) Rule: Ex: Same methods for naming metal non metal combinations are followed. Metal ions name is retained then we write hydroxide (OH) Methods for classical and stock methods are applied Aluminum hydroxide = Al(OH)3 Sodium hydroxide = NaOH Ferric hydroxide = Fe(OH)3 Ferrous hydroxide = Fe(OH)2 Mercury (I) hydroxide = HgOH Mercury (II) hydroxide = Hg(OH)2