Chemical Nomenclature Information Sheet Template Page 3
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33. Acids
Binary Acids (acids without oxygen)
General Form = H
X (aq)
y
Where: H = hydrogen
X = nonmetal
y = integer
(aq) means that the compound is dissolved in water. (Compound is in aqueous phase.)
Steps in naming binary acids:
(1) Write the prefix, hydro-;
(2) Add the stem of the name for the nonmetal, X. If X = sulfur, write sulfur instead of sulf.
(3) Add the suffix, -ic to the stem.
(4) Add the word, acid.
Examples: HF (aq) = hydrofluoric acid;
H
S (aq) = hydrosulfuric acid
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Oxyacids
General form = H
XO
(aq)
y
z
Where: H = hydrogen
y-
XO
= a polyatomic anion
z
y and z are small integers
(aq) means that the compound is dissolved in water. (Compound is in aqueous phase.)
Steps in naming oxyacids:
(1) Write the stem of the anion. The stem of the most polyatomic anions is the name of the anion minus
-
the -ate or -ite ending.) Example:
ClO
= perchlorate ion, stem = perchlor
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(2) If the anion name ended in –ate, add –ic to the stem.
(3) If the anion name ended in –ite, add –ous to the stem.
(4) Add the word, acid.
Examples: HClO
(aq) = perchloric acid;
HNO
(aq) = nitrous acid
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4. Hydrates
General Form: Salt • yH
O
2
Where: y = a small whole number
Steps in naming hydrates:
(1) Name the salt
(2) Give the numerical prefix for the value of y.
(3) Add the word hydrate.
• 5H
Examples:
CuSO
O = copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate;
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• 4H
ZnF
O = zinc fluoride tetrahydrate.
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Thanks to Professor Hoburg for allowing the adaptation of his handout on chemical nomenclature.
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