Naming Chemical Compounds (Page 4 of 4) in pdf

Naming Chemical Compounds Page 4

there is only one of that atom. The mono prefix in carbon monoxide is used

because it has been in common use since the early days of chemistry.

The

compound NO is simply called nitrogen oxide.

is then carbon dioxide, N

is dinitrogen trisulfide, PF

is phosphorous

pentasulfide, and so on. Elements are also named in this way, since they can exist

in multiple forms, called allotropes. For example, oxygen is found in nature as

both O

and O

. While these two gases are commonly called oxygen and ozone,

respectively, their official names are dioxygen and trioxygen.

Sample Problems

Write the name for Cu(NO

)

Since the nitrite ion has a charge of 1-, the total negative charge is 2-. Thus,

copper has a 2+ charge and the name is copper(II) nitrite.

Write the formula for aluminum sulfite.

The two ions in this compound are Al

and SO

. To balance the charges,

two aluminum ions and three sulfite ions will be required. Thus, the

formula will be Al

(SO

)

. Remember that parentheses must be use if there

is more than one of the polyatomic ion.

Write the formula for tetraphosphorus hexoxide.

Since the prefix tetra means 4 and hexa means 6, the formula is P

Write the formula for calcium dihydrogenarsenite.

The two ions in this compound are Ca

and H

AsO

To balance the

charges, two anions will be needed to balance the cation. Thus the formula

will be Ca(H

AsO

)

Write the name for Au(IO)

The hypoiodite ion has a 1- charge, so gold will have a 3+ charge to balance

the three anions. Thus the name will be gold(III) hypoiodite.

Naming Chemical Compounds Page 4