Naming simple chemical compounds is very important if you want to be successful in chemistry. Follow this guide to learn some basic rules for naming chemical compounds, and how to name compounds you don't know.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Naming Ionic Compounds
Step 1. Know the definition of an ionic compound
Ionic compounds contain metals and non-metals. Look at the periodic table of elements to see the categories of elements in a compound.
Step 2. Give it a name
For compounds consisting of two ionic elements, naming is very easy. The first part of the name is the name of the metal element. The second part is the name of the nonmetal element, ending with ida.
Example: Al2O3. Al2 = Aluminum; O3 = Oxygen. So the name became aluminum oxide.
Step 3. Pay attention to the transition metals
The metals in the D and F blocks of the periodic table are known as transition metals. The charge of this metal is written with a roman number when writing the name of the compound. This is done because the transition metals can have more than one type of charge and can make up more than one type of compound.
Example: FeCl2 and FeCl3. Fe = Iron; Cl2 = Chloride -2; Cl3 = Chloride -3. The names of the compounds are iron(II) chloride and iron(III) chloride.
Method 2 of 3: Naming Polyatomic Compounds
Step 1. Understand the meaning of polyatomic compounds
These compounds consist of a group of atoms joined together, and the entire collection has a positive or negative charge. You can do three basic things for polyatomic compounds:
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Add hydrogen to the first name of the compound. The word hydrogen is added to the front of the compound name. This reduces one negative charge. For example, CO. carbonate32- to hydrogen carbonate HCO3-.
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Remove oxygen from the compound. The charge remains and the end of the compound changes from -at to -it. For example: NO3 to be NO2, the name changed from nitrate to nitrite.”
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Replace the middle atom with another atom from the same periodic group. For example, sulfate SO42- can be selenate SeO42-.
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Step 2. Remember the most frequently used ion sets
This group is the basis for forming most polyatomic compounds. The order of the smallest negative charge is:
- hydroxide ion: OH-
- Nitrate ion: NO3-
- Hydrogen carbonate ion: HCO3-
- Permanganate ion: MnO4-
- Carbonate ion: CO32-
- Chromate ion: CrO42-
- Dichromate ion: Cr2O72-
- Sulfate ion: SO42-
- Sulfite ion: SO32-
- Thiosulfate ion: S2O32-
- Phosphate ion: PO43-
- Ammonia ion: NH4+
Step 3. Arrange the names of the compounds based on the list
Combine any elements in the ionic group and name them correctly. If the element is in front of the ionic group, the name of the element only needs to be added to the front of the compound name.
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Example: KMnO4. You should have noticed that the MnO. ion4- is permanganate. K is potassium, so the name of the compound is potassium permanganate.
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Example: NaOH. You should have noticed that the OH. ion- is hydroxide. Na is sodium, so the name of the compound is sodium hydroxide.
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Method 3 of 3: Naming Covalent Compounds
Step 1. Understand the meaning of covalent compounds
Covalent compounds are formed from two or more non-metallic elements. Nam sneyawa is based on the number of atoms present. The prefix added to the compound name is the Latin term for the number of molecules.
Step 2. Learn the beginning
Remember the prefix up to 8 atoms:
- 1 atom – “Mono-”
- 2 atoms – “Di-”
- 3 atoms – “Tri-”
- 4 atoms – “Tetra-”
- 5 atoms – “Penta-”
- 6 atoms – “Hexa-”
- 7 atoms – “Hepta-”
- 8 atoms – “Octa-”
Step 3. Name the compound
Using the correct prefix, name the new compound. You add a prefix to any part of the compound that has many atoms.
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Example: CO will become carbon monoxide and CO2 will be carbon dioxide.
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Example: N2S3 will be nitrous trisulfide.
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In many cases, the mono prefix can be omitted because it indicates that there are no other values. This prefix is still used for carbon monoxide because it is a term used since the early development of chemistry.
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Tips
- It is important to realize that this name does not apply to organic chemistry.
- These rules are made for people who are new to chemistry and science. Different rules apply if you've studied advanced chemistry, for example the rule of valence variables.
- Of course, this rule has many exceptions, for example, even though it has a 2 at the end, CaCl2 still called calcium chloride, NOT calcium dichloride as one might think.
