Chemical Nomenclature Ionic Compounds Worksheet
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1
2
3Chemical Nomenclature
Chemistry B2A
Binary ionic compounds: are formed from the attraction of a metal cation (positive ion) and
a non-metal (negative ion). The name of a binary compound consists of the name of the metal
from which the cation (positive ion) was formed, followed by the name of the anion (negative
ion). We generally ignore subscripts in naming binary ionic compounds.
NaCl Sodium chloride
CaO
Calcium oxide
Writing formulas for binary ionic compounds: is a two-step process. The first step is to
write down the symbol and charge for each ion in the binary compound. The second step is to
use subscripts to balance charge in the compound so that there are as many positive charges as
negative charges:
+
2-
Example: Potassium oxide is an ionic compound formed from the K
ion and the O
ion. In
order to produce an ionic compound, there must be the same number of positive charges as
+
negative charges (because all matters are neutral). This accomplished by having two K
2-
bonding to the single O
. The ionic formula for potassium oxide is therefore K
O.
2
Ionic compound containing polyatomic ions: are named similarly to binary compounds,
except that the polyatomic ion name is used whenever one is encountered.
CaCO
Calcium carbonate
3
KNO
Potassium nitrate
3
Writing formulas for the ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions: is accomplished in
the same manner that is for binary ionic compounds. The difference is that parenthesis must
be used with polyatomic ions needing subscripts. For example in Ca(NO
)
, there qre two
3
2
-
NO
ions in the compound. Trying to write formula without the parenthesis, NO
, would
3
32
suggest that the compound contains 32 oxygen atoms.
Ionic compound containing transition metals: Some transition and inner transition
elements have more than one possible charge. We show the charge with the Roman numeral
following the name of metal (for Systematic name or IUPAC (International Union of Pure
and Applied Chemistry)). Or we use the suffix “-ous” to show the smaller charge and suffix “-
ic” to show the larger charge (for Common name).
+
Cu
O contains Cu
Copper(I) oxide
Cuprous oxide
2
2+
CuO contains Cu
Copper(II) oxide
Cupric oxide
Binary covalent compounds: the name for a binary covalent compound is obtained by listing
the name of the less electronegative element, followed by the more electronegative elemental
stem with the ending “-ide”. Greek prefixes (mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-,
octa-, nona-, deca-) are used to denote the number of atoms for each element. “Mono” is
ignored for the first atom.
CCl
Carbon tetrachloride
CO
Carbon monoxide
4
Dr. Behrang Madani
Chemistry B2A
Bakersfield college
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