Chemical Names and Formulae SNC1P Mr. M. Couturier
Feb 16, 2016
Chemical Names and Formulae
SNC1PMr. M. Couturier
Chemical Names IUPAC is the International Union of
Pure and Applied Chemistry which sets the standards of chemistry, which includes naming chemicals.
A few definitions A binary compound is a compound
that contains two different elements.
A polyatomic ion consists of two or more different non-metal atoms, which are joined by covalent bonds.
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
When naming a compound with a metal and a non-metal, you must: Name the metal first Name the non-metal next but add the
suffix –ide.
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Examples: Complete the chemical compound using electron diagrams and then name it.
Na and Cl: K and S: Mg and N: Li and C: Ca and Br: Ba and F:
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Examples: Na and Cl: NaCl sodium
chloride K and S: K2S potassium
sulfide Mg and N: Mg3N2 magnesium
nitride Li and C: Li4C lithium
carbide Ca and Br: CaBr2 calcium
bromide Ba and F: BaF2 barium
fluoride
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Note that regardless of the number of atoms present, the name of the compound is simply named by the metal and the non-metal (with the –ide suffix). However, this is only true when dealing with metals that are only willing to give a specific number of electrons. For example, calcium always gives 2 electrons. However, this is not always the case with transition metals.
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
When looking at the periodic table you will note that there is an “ionic charge” listed. For example, Fe can sometimes give 2 electrons (forming the cation Fe2+) and sometimes it gives 3 electrons (forming the cation Fe3+).
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Element Cation
Preferred Name
Other Name
Copper Cu+ Copper (I) CuprousCu2+ Copper (II) Cupric
Iron Fe2+ Iron (II) FerrousFe3+ Iron (III) Ferric
Lead Pb2+ Lead (II) PlumbousPb4+ Lead (IV) Plumbic
Mercury Hg+ Mercury (I) Mercurous
Hg2+ Mercury (II) MercuricTin Sn2+ Tin (II) Stannous
Sn4+ Tin (IV) Stannic
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Examples: Given the cation, determine the compound formed as well as it name.
Fe2+ and S: Cu2+ and N: Fe2+ and F: Fe3+ and F: Hg+ and Br: Hg2+ and Br:
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Examples: Given the cation, determine the compound formed as well as it name.
Fe2+ and S: FeS iron (II) sulfide or ferrous sulfide
Cu2+ and N: Cu3N2 copper (II) nitride or cupric nitride
Fe2+ and F: FeF2 iron (II) fluoride or ferrous fluoride
Fe3+ and F: FeF3 iron (III) fluoride or ferric fluoride
Hg+ and Br: Hg2Br2 mercury (I) bromide or mercurous bromide
Hg2+ and Br: HgBr2 mercury (II) bromide or mercuric bromide
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
TRICK: The suffix –ous is used for the lower charge whereas the suffix –ic is used for the higher charge.
Metal+Non-Metal Compounds
Element Cation
Preferred Name
Other Name
Copper Cu+ Copper (I) CuprousCu2+ Copper (II) Cupric
Iron Fe2+ Iron (II) FerrousFe3+ Iron (III) Ferric
Lead Pb2+ Lead (II) PlumbousPb4+ Lead (IV) Plumbic
Mercury Hg+ Mercury (I) Mercurous
Hg2+ Mercury (II) MercuricTin Sn2+ Tin (II) Stannous
Sn4+ Tin (IV) Stannic
Non-Metal Compounds When naming a compound with a
non-metals you must: Name the leftmost element first Add the suffix –ide to the next element Add Greek prefixes for the numbers of
atoms (except if the first element only has one)
Greek classNumber Greek
1 mono2 di3 tri4 tetra5 penta6 hexa7 hepta8 octa9 nona10 deca
Non-Metal Compounds Examples: Given the following non-
metals, determine the compound formed as well as it name.
NO N2O NO2
N2O5
N2O3
Non-Metal Compounds Examples: Given the following non-
metals, determine the compound formed as well as it name.
NO nitrogen monoxide N2O dinitrogen monoxide NO2 nitrogen dioxide N2O5 dinitrogen pentoxide N2O3 dinitrogen trioxide
Polyatomic Ions When naming a compound with one
or more polyatomic ions, you must: Name the cation first Name the anion second
Polyatomic IonsName IonAmmonium NH4
+
Hydronium H3O+
Bicarbonate HCO3-
Cyanide CN-
Hydrogen Sulfate HSO4-
Hydroxide OH-
Nitrate NO3-
Nitrite NO2-
Polyatomic Ions Examples: Ammonium cyanide: [NH4
+] + [CN-] (NH4)CN Ammonium hydroxide: [NH4
+] + [OH-] (NH4)OH
Polyatomic Ions Examples: Barium sulfate: [Ba2+] + [SO4
2-] BaSO4
Iron (II) nitrate OR ferrous nitrate [Fe2+] + [NO3
-] Fe(NO3)2
Polyatomic IonsName IonAmmonium NH4
+
Hydronium H3O+
Bicarbonate HCO3-
Cyanide CN-
Hydrogen Sulfate HSO4-
Hydroxide OH-
Nitrate NO3-
Nitrite NO2-