Naming

Compounds and
Writing Formulas

Metals and Nonmetals

For nomenclature purposes, metals are

to the left of the stair step line and
nonmetals are to the right.

Systematic Naming

A compound is made of two or more

elements.
The name should tell us how many and
what type of atoms.

Types of Compounds

The types of compounds you will learn

how to name and draw are
ionic compounds (binary and
ternary),
molecular compounds and
acids (binary and ternary).

Atoms and Ions

Atoms are electrically neutral.

They have the same number of protons
and electrons.
Ions are atoms, or groups of atoms,
with a charge.
Ions have a different numbers of
electrons.

Anions

negative ion.
An anion is a _________
gained electrons.
An anion has _______
Nonmetals can gain electrons.
The charge is written as a superscript
on the right.

1-

F
2O

Has gained ___

1 electron(s)
Has gained ___
2 electron(s)

Cations

A cation is a _________
positive ion.
It is formed by _______
losing electrons.
There are more protons than electrons.
Metals form cations.
1 electron(s)
1+ Has lost ___

K
2+
Ca

Has lost ___

2 electron(s)

Oxidation Numbers

IONIC COMPOUNDS

Naming Cations

For cations, if the charge is always the

same (Group A) just write the name of
the metal.

Naming Cations

Li1+

lithium
Li is the symbol for ________.

Lithium is a Group 1A metal, so the

charge is always the same. Write
the name of the metal.

lithium ion
Li1+ is called the ___________.

Naming Cations

Sr2+

strontium
Sr is the symbol for __________.

Strontium is a Group 2A metal, so

the charge is always the same.
Write the name of the metal.

strontium ion
Sr2+ is called the _____________.

Naming Cations

Transition metals (as well as tin and

lead) can have more than one type of
charge.
Indicate the charge with Roman
numerals in parenthesis.
Zinc (Zn2+) and silver (Ag1+), although
transition metals, only have one
possible charge. Roman numerals ARE
NOT used for zinc and silver.

Naming Cations

Fe2+

Fe is the symbol for ______.

iron

Iron is a transition metal, so the

charge is not always the same.
Write the name of the metal,
indicating the charge with Roman
numerals in parenthesis.

iron (II) ion

Fe2+ is called the ___________.

Naming Cations

Pb2+

Pb is the symbol for ______.

lead

Lead is a Group 4A metal, and the

charge is not always the same.
Write the name of the metal,
indicating the charge with Roman
numerals in parenthesis.

lead (II) ion

Pb2+ is called the ___________.

Problem
1) Name the following cations.
a) Ca2+

Calcium ion

b) Al3+

Aluminum ion

c) Sn4+

Tin (IV) ion

Problem

Name the following ions.

d) Na1+

Sodium ion

e) Fe3+

Iron (III) ion

f) Cu1+

Copper (I) ion

Naming Anions

Naming monatomic anions is always the

same.
Change the element ending to ide
Example: F1F is the symbol for fluorine, F1- is called
fluor ine.
ide.

Naming Anions

Cl-

Cl is the symbol for _________.

chlorine

Chlorine is a Group 7A nonmetal, so

the charge is always the same (-1).

chloride ion
Cl- is called the ____________.

Naming Anions

O2-

O is the symbol for _________.

oxygen

Oxygen is a Group 6A nonmetal, so

the charge is always the same (-2).

oxide ion
O2- is called the __________.

Problem
2) Name the following anions.

a) S2b) Br

sulfide ion
-

bromide ion

Problem
Name the following anions.

c) N3d) Se2-

nitride ion
selenide ion

Ionic Compounds

In the formula for an ionic compound,

the symbol of the cation is written before
that of the anion.
Subscripts, or small numbers written to
the lower right of the chemical symbols,
show the numbers of ions of each type
present in a formula unit.

Naming Binary Ionic

Compounds

Binary ionic compounds are composed

of a metal bonded with a nonmetal.
Name the metal ion using a Roman
numeral in parenthesis if necessary.
Follow this name with the name of the
nonmetal ion.

Problem
3) Name the following binary ionic
compounds.
a) NaCl

sodium chloride

b) Ca3P2

calcium phosphide

Problem
Name the following binary ionic
compounds.
c) CuO
d) SnBr2

Copper (II) oxide

Tin (II) bromide

Problem
Name the following binary ionic
compounds.
e) Fe2S3
f) AlF3

Iron (III) sulfide

Aluminum fluoride

Problem
Name the following binary ionic
compounds.
g) KCl

Potassium chloride

h) Na3N

Sodium nitride

Problem
Name the following binary ionic
compounds.
i) CrN

Chromium (III) nitride

j) PbO2

Lead (IV) oxide

Writing Formulas for Cations

Write the formula for the metal.

If a Roman numeral is in parenthesis
use that number for the charge.
Indicate the charge with a superscript.
If no Roman numeral is given, find the
Group A metal on the periodic table and
determine the charge from the column
number.

Writing Formulas for Cations

Nickel (II) ion

____
Ni is the symbol for nickel.

Nickel is a transition metal, which is

the reason why the charge with
Roman numerals in parenthesis was
included.

The formula for the nickel (II) ion is

Ni2+
_____.

Writing Formulas for Cations

Gallium ion

____
Ga is the symbol for gallium.

Gallium is a Group 3A metal and its

charge is always the same (+3).

The formula for the gallium ion is

Ga3+
______.

Problem
4) Write the formulas for the following
cations.
a) Magnesium ion

Mg

b) Copper (II) ion

Cu2+

c) Potassium ion

1+

2+

Problem
Write the formulas for the following ions.
d) Silver ion

Ag1+

e) Chromium (VI) ion

f) Mercury (II) ion

Cr

6+

Hg2+

Writing Formulas for Anions

Write the formula for the nonmetal.

Find the Group A nonmetal on the
periodic table and determine the charge
from the column number.

Writing Formulas for Anions

Phosphide

___
P is the symbol for phosphorus.

Looking at the periodic table and

finding phosphorus, the oxidation
number (charge) can be determined.

The formula for phosphide is _____.

P3-

Writing Formulas for Anions

Bromide

___
Br is the symbol for bromine.

Looking at the periodic table and

finding bromine, the oxidation
number (charge) can be determined.

The formula for bromide is _____.

Br1-

Problem
5) Write the formulas for the following
anions.
a) arsenide

As3-

b) telluride

Te

2-

Problem
Write the formulas for the following anions.

c) iodide ion
d) carbide ion

I1C4-

Writing Formulas for Ionic

Compounds

Oxidation numbers can be used to

determine the chemical formulas for
ionic compounds.
If the oxidation number of each ion is
multiplied by the number of that ion
present in a formula unit, and then the
results are added, the sum must be
zero.

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Write the symbol for the metal.

Determine the oxidation number from
either the column number or the Roman
numeral and write it as a superscript to
the right of the metals symbol.

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

To the right of the metals symbol, write

the symbol for the nonmetal. Determine
the oxidation number from the column
number and write it as a superscript to
the right of the nonmetals symbol.

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Example: potassium fluoride

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

If the two oxidation numbers add

together to get zero, the formula is a
one-to-one ratio of the elements.

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Example: potassium fluoride

KKFF

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Example: aluminum sulfide

Al

3+

2-

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

If the two oxidation numbers DO NOT

add together to get zero, you will need
to criss-cross the superscripts. These
numbers now become subscripts.

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Example: aluminum sulfide

3+

2-

Al 2- S 3+

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Omit all positive and negative signs and

omit all 1s.

Writing Formulas for Binary

Ionic Compounds

Example: aluminum sulfide

AlAl2 2SS3 3

Problem
6) Write the formulas for the following
binary ionic compounds.
a) Lithium selenide
b) Tin (II) oxide

Li2Se

SnO

Problem
Write the formulas for the following
binary ionic compounds.
c) Tin (IV) oxide

SnO2

d) Magnesium fluoride

MgF2

Problem
Write the formulas for the following
binary ionic compounds.
e) Copper (II) sulfide

CuS

f) Iron (II) phosphide

Fe3P2

Problem
Write the formulas for the following
binary ionic compounds.
g) Gallium nitride

GaN

h) Iron (III) sulfide

Fe2S3

STOP HERE

Naming Ternary Ionic

Compounds

Ternary ionic compounds are composed

of at least 3 elements.
Name the metal ion, using a Roman
numeral in parenthesis if necessary.
Follow this name with the name of the
polyatomic ion.

Polyatomic ions

Polyatomic ions are groups of atoms

that stay together and have a charge.
Examples are on page 7 of the
Reference Tables for Chemistry and
include:
Nitrate NO3 Nitrite NO2 Hydroxide OH-

Ternary Ionic Compounds

There is one polyatomic ion with a

positive oxidation number (NH4+) that
may come first in a compound. Name
the ion, ammonium.
Follow this name with the name of the
anion or second polyatomic ion.

Examples
7) Name the following ternary ionic
compounds.
a) LiCN
Lithium cyanide
b) Fe(OH)3 Iron (III) hydroxide

Examples
Name the following ternary ionic
compounds.
c) (NH4)2CO3 Ammonium carbonate
d) NiPO4

Nickel (III) phosphate

Problems
Name the following ternary ionic
compounds.
e) NaNO3
Sodium nitrate
f) CaSO4

Calcium sulfate

Problems
Name the following ternary ionic
compounds.
g) (NH ) O Ammonium oxide
4 2

h) CuSO3

Copper (II) sulfite

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Write the symbol for the metal or

ammonium ion. Write the oxidation
number as a superscript to the right of
the metals/ammonium ions symbol.

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

To the right of the metals symbol, write

the symbol for the nonmetal or
polyatomic ion. Write the oxidation
number as a superscript to the right of
the nonmetals/polyatomic ions symbol.

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Example: potassium nitrate

NO3

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

If the two oxidation numbers add

together to get zero, the formula is a
one-to-one ratio of the elements.

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Example: potassium nitrate

+

3 3

KKNO
NO

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Example: aluminum hydrogen sulfate

Al

3+

HSO4

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

If the two oxidation numbers DO NOT

add together to get zero, you will need
to criss-cross the superscripts. These
numbers now become subscripts.
Parentheses are to be placed around
polyatomic ions before criss-crossing.

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Example: aluminum hydrogen sulfate

3+

Al - (HSO4) 3+

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Omit all positive and negative signs and

omit all 1s.

Writing Formulas for Ternary

Ionic Compounds

Example: aluminum hydrogen sulfate

Al
Al(HSO
(HSO4)33

Problems
8) Write the formulas for the following
ternary ionic compounds.
a) Ammonium chloride NH Cl
4

b) Ammonium sulfide

(NH4)2S

Problems

Write the formulas for the following

ternary ionic compounds.
c) Barium nitrate
Ba(NO )
3 2

d) Zinc iodate

Zn(IO3)2

Problems

Write the formulas for the following

ternary ionic compounds.
e) Sodium hypochlorite NaClO

f) Chromium (III) acetate

Cr(CH3COO)3 or
Cr(C2H3O2)3

Problems

Write the formulas for the following

ternary ionic compounds.
g) Iron (II) dichromate FeCr O
2

h) Mercury (I) bromate

HgBrO3

STOP HERE

COVALENT
(Molecular)
COMPOUNDS

Molecular Compounds

Molecular compounds are made of

molecules.
They are made by joining nonmetal
atoms together into molecules.

Naming is Easier

A molecular compounds name tells you

the number of atoms through the use of
prefixes.

Prefixes

1 mono2 di3 tri4 tetra5 penta-

6 hexa7 hepta8 octa9 nona10 deca-

Prefixes

The name will consist of two words.

Prefix name prefix name -ide

One exception is we dont write

mono- if there is only one of the first
element.

Prefixes

The following double vowels cannot be

used when writing names:

(oa)
(oo)

Example

NO2

There is one nitrogen

mononitrogen

But, you cannot use mono- on the first

element, so drop the prefix.
nitrogen
mononitrogen

Example

NO2

There are two oxygens

dioxygen

Example

NO2

dioxygen

You need the suffix -ide

diox ygen
ide

Example

NO2

nitrogen dioxide

Example

N2O

There are two nitrogens

dinitrogen

There is one oxygen

monooxygen

Example

N2O

monooxygen

You cannot run (oo) together, so

monoxygen

Example

N2O

monoxygen

You need the suffix -ide

monoxygen
ide

Example

N2O

dinitrogen monoxide

Problem
9) Name the following molecular
compounds.
a) Cl2O7
b) CBr4

dichlorine heptoxide
carbon tetrabromide

Problem
Name the following molecular
compounds.
c) CO2

carbon dioxide

d) BCl3

boron trichloride

Writing Formulas for

Molecular Compounds

You will not need to criss-cross oxidation

numbers.
Molecular compounds name tells you
the number of atoms through the use of
prefixes.

Example

diphosphorus pentoxide

The name implies there are 2

phosphorous atoms and 5 oxygens.

P2O 5

Example

sulfur hexaflouride

The name implies there is 1 sulfur

atom and 6 fluorines.

SF6

Problem
10) Write the formulas for the following
molecules.
a) tetraiodine nonoxide I O
4

b) nitrogen trioxide

NO3

Problem
Write the formulas for the following
molecules.
c) carbon tetrahydride CH
4

d) phosphorus trifluoride

PF 3

STOP HERE

Acids
Writing Names and Formulas

Acids

Acids are compounds that give off

hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in
water.
Acids will always contain one or more
hydrogen ions next to an anion.
The anion determines the name of the
acid.

Naming Binary Acids

Binary acids contain hydrogen and an

anion whose name ends in ide.
When naming the acid, put the prefix
hydro- and change -ide to -ic acid.

Example

HCl

The acid contains the hydrogen ion

and chloride ion.

Begin with the prefix hydro-, name

the nonmetallic ion and change
-ide to -ic acid.

hydrochloride
ic acid

Example

H2S

The acid contains the hydrogen ion

and sulfide ion.

Begin with the prefix hydro- and

name the nonmetallic ion.

hydrosulfide

Example

H2S

The next step is change -ide to -ic

acid, but for sulfur the ur is added
before -ic.

hydrosulfide
ur ic acid

Problem
11. Name the following binary acids.
a) HF
(hydrofluoric acid)
b) H3P
(hydrophosphoric acid)

Writing the Formulas for

Binary Acids

The prefix hydro- lets you know the acid

is binary.
Determine whether you need to crisscross the oxidation numbers of
hydrogen and the nonmetal.

Example

Hydrobromic acid

The acid contains the hydrogen

ion and the bromide ion.

Example

Hydrobromic acid

H Br
1+

1-

The two oxidation numbers add

together to get zero.

HBr

Example

Hydrotelluric acid

The prefix hydro- lets you know the

acid is binary.
The acid contains the hydrogen ion
and the telluride ion.

Example

Hydrotelluric acid

H Te
1+

2-

The two oxidation numbers do NOT

add together to get zero, so you must
criss-cross.

H2Te

Problem
12) Write the formulas for the following
binary acids.
a) Hydrocyanic acid HCN
b) Hydroselenic acid

H2Se

Naming Ternary Acids

The acid is a ternary acid if the anion

has oxygen in it.
The anion ends in -ate or -ite.
Change the suffix -ate to -ic acid
Change the suffix -ite to -ous acid
The hydro- prefix is NOT used!

Example

HNO3

The acid contains the hydrogen ion

and nitrate ion.

Name the polyatomic ion and

change -ate to -ic acid.

nitrate
ic acid

Example

HNO2

The acid contains the hydrogen ion

and nitrite ion.

Name the polyatomic ion and

change -ite to -ous acid.

nitrite
ous acid

Example

H3PO4

The acid contains the hydrogen ion

and phosphate ion.

Name the polyatomic ion and

change -ate to -ic acid.

phosphate
oric acid

Problem
13) Name the following ternary acids.
a) H2CO3

(carbonic acid)

b) H2SO4

(sulfuric acid)

Problem
Name the following ternary acids.
c) H2CrO4

d) HClO2

(chromic acid)

(chlorous acid)

Writing the Formulas for

Ternary Acids

The lack of the prefix hydro- from the

name implies the acid is ternary, made
of the hydrogen ion and a polyatomic
ion.
Determine whether you need to crisscross the oxidation numbers of
hydrogen and the polyatomic ion.

Example

Acetic acid

The polyatomic ion must end in ate

since the acid ends in -ic.
The acid is made of H+ and the acetate
ion.

H C2H3O
1+

12

Example

H C2H3O
1+

12

The two charges when added equal

zero.

HC2H3O2

Example

Sulfurous acid

Again the lack of the prefix hydroimplies the acid is ternary, made of the
hydrogen ion and a polyatomic ion.

Example

sulfurous acid

The polyatomic ion must end in ite

since the acid ends in -ous.
The acid is made of H+ and the sulfite
ion.

H SO
1+

23

Example

H SO
1+

23

The two charges when added do not equal

zero, so you must crisscross the oxidation
numbers.

Example

H SO
1+

23

Ignore the negative sign and ones are

understood.

H2SO3

Problem
14) Write the formulas for the following
ternary acids.
a) perchloric acid

HClO4

b) iodic acid

HIO3

Problem
Write the formulas for the following
ternary acids.
c) dichromic acid

H2Cr2O7

d) hypochlorous acid

HClO