Mr. Bouyer
Day 1 | Day 2 | Lab | Lab Follow Up | Skills Test

  • Write the names of binary compounds.
  • Write the names of compounds containing polyatomic ions.
  • Know the appropriate use of Roman Numberals in chemical names.
  • Be familiar with the older system of naming chemicals using prefixes and suffixes.

General Rules


Naming Binary Compounds:

While chemical nomenclature can be quite complicated, this simplification covers what you need to know in this class.
First - write the name of the positive element.
Then - write the name of the negative element with an -ide ending.

Examples:

  • NaCl - sodium chloride
  • CaI2 - calcium iodide
  • Li4C - lithium carbide

Naming compounds containing polyatomic ions:

First - write the name of the positive element.
Then - write the name of the polyatomic ion without changing its name.
Use this polyatomic ion calculator link to an Internet Websitefor more examples.

 

Names containing Roman Numerals in parenthesis:

If the positive element has more than one possible oxidation number, or if it is out of character, its oxidation is shown as a Roman numeral in parenthesis after its name. A good rule of thumb, "most metals located in the p, d, and f sublevels can have more than one oxidation number".

Silver is one d sublevel metal that always has an oxidation number of +1. Aluminum is one p sublevel metal that always has an oxidation number of +3. Roman numerals will never be used in their compound names.
Examples:

link to a local webpage with useful information

Assignment 061:
Scoring criterialink to a local webpage

Write the correct name for each of these compounds:

  1. Fe(OH)2
  2. (NH4)3PO4
  3. AlPO4
  4. Cu(C2H3O2)2
  5. CaCO3
  6. NH4OH
  7. Si(SO4)2
  8. Ag3PO4
  9. Hg(ClO3)2
  10. K2SO3

Day 2

Use this webtest link to an Internet Websiteto practice chemical nomenclature.

There are older systems still being used with prefixes and suffixes. Some of these names have become so widely used, that applying the newer system above would be more confusing than it is worth. The use of "ic" and "ous" to indicate oxidation numbers is becoming less and less common. Using prefixes to indicate number of atoms in oxides is still quite common.

A good chemistry student knows the two naming systems listed below: Explore this Internet Website about Chemistry

Assignment 062:
Scoring criterialink to a local webpage

Research Links:

Chemistry Class