Lesson CHEMISTRY NOMENCLATURE

1 System of Naming
What I Need to Know
1. Write the names of binary ionic compounds.
2. Categorize the compounds by names
3. Clasiffy the elements in the compound as metal, nonmetal and metalloids

Whats In
Naming compounds in chemistry does not need any memory work because chemist have
developed a system based on a series of logical rules and principles.
A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically
bonded together. In mixtures, the substances present are not chemically bonded together. The type of
bonds holding elements together in a compound can vary: two common types are covalent bonds and
ionic bonds.
A compound that contains ions and is held together by ionic bonds is called an ionic
compound. The periodic table can help us recognize many of the compounds that are ionic: When a
metal is combined with one or more nonmetals, the compound is usually ionic. This guideline
works well for predicting ionic compound formation for most of the compounds typically encountered in
an introductory chemistry course. However, it is not always true (for example, aluminum chloride, AlCl3,
is not ionic).
These molecular compounds (covalent compounds) result when atoms share, rather than
transfer (gain or lose), electrons. covalent compounds are usually formed by a combination of
nonmetals.
Activity 1
IONIC or MOLECULAR COMPOUND
Using the periodic table below, predict whether the following compounds are ionic or
covalent:

https://www.goodscience.com.au/year-8-chemistry/introduction-
to-the-periodic-table/

Predict whether the following compounds are ionic or molecular:

_______________________ 1. KI, the compound used as a source of iodine in table salt
_______________________ 2. H2O2, the bleach and disinfectant hydrogen peroxide
_______________________ 3. CHCl3, the anesthetic chloroform
_______________________ 4. Li2CO3, a source of lithium in antidepressants
_______________________ 5. SO2
_______________________ 6. N2H4
_______________________ 7. Al2(SO4)3

What Is It
Nomenclaure of Binary Ionic Compound
A. Metal wih fixed Oxidation Number:
Note( No number written means the ion is 1)
Lithium: Li+ Magnesium: Mg2+ Soduim: Na+ Calcium: Ca2+
Potassium: K +
Strontium: Sr2+ Rubidium: Rb+ Barium: Ba2+
Cesium: Cs+ Beryllium 2+

Generally, there are two types of inorganic compounds that can be formed: ionic compounds
and molecular compounds. Nomenclature is the process of naming chemical compounds with different
names so that they can be easily identified as separate chemicals
A binary ionic compound is composed of ions of two different elements - one of which is a
metal, and the other a nonmetal. The compound name has an ending of –ide.For example, NaCl (Refer
to the Periodic table given in the previous page)
Na- metal element Cl- nonmetal element
Nonmetal roots
H – hydro- P - Phosph- S – Sulf- Cl- Chlor-
C - carb- As - Arsen- Se- Selen- Br- brom-
N - nitr- O - Ox- F- Fluor - I- iod-

Pattern of Naming : Metal name space Nonmetal Root name + -ide

 The cation (metal) is always named first with its name unchanged
 The anion (nonmetal) is written after the cation, modified to end in –ide
Example:
Note: It is not necessary to indicate the number of ions in the name of the compound
1. NaCl – Na (sodium) Cl (chlor + -ide) NaCl – Sodium chloride
2. MgBr2 – Mg (Magnesium) Br (Brom + -ide) Magnesium Bromide

Activity 1
Binary Ionic Compound
A. Write the correct name of the following binary ionic compounds.

Chemical Formula Name of the compound

1. KF
2. Na3N
3. Ca3 P2
4. AlF3
5. MgO
B. Identify the metal and nonmetal element in a compound.

Chemical Formula Metal Element Nonmetal element

1. KF
2. Na3N
3. Ca3 P2
4. AlF3
5. MgO

B. Metal wih Variable Oxidation Number: Metals with more than one charge
 The transition metals may form more than one ion, thus it is needed to be specified which
particular ion we are talking about. This is indicated by assigning a Roman numeral after the metal. The
Roman numeral denotes the charge and the oxidation state of the transition metal ion.

Table 1: Metals with more than one charges (cations)

ELEMENT Metal Cations ELEMENT Metal Cations

Cu+ Fe2+
Fe3+
Copper Cu+2 Iron
Pb+2 Hg22+
Hg2+
Lead Pb+3 Mercury
Sn2+ Au+
Au+3
Tin Sn4+ Gold
Co+2 Sb+3
Sb+5
Cobalt Co+3 Antimony
Ni+2 As+3
As+5
Nickel Ni+3 Arsenic

Table 2: Charges of Nonmetals (anions)

Nonmetal Nonmetal anions Nonmetal Nonmetal anions

- -
Bromine Br Iodine I
Hydrogen H- Oxygen O2-
Carbon C4- Nitrogen N3-
Fluorine F- Sulfur S2-
Phosphide P-3 Chlorine Cl-

There are two ways of naming compounds with metals with more than one charges. The
Stock System Classical System
A. STOCK SYSTEM:
This is indicated by assigning a Roman numeral after the metal. The Roman
numeral denotes the charge and the oxidation state of the transition metal ion.

Pattern of Naming: Metal name + (Roman Numeral of ion of metal) + Nonmetal roots + -ide
1. Identify the charge used by the metal element. Refer to table 1
 Note: In chemical formula of compound, the absolute value of each ion becomes the
subscript of the other
Ex. In Pb3N2 , the subscript 3 is the ion of Nitrogen, and subscript 2 is the ion of Lead (Pb)
a. Pb+2N-3
b. Pb+2N-3 criss-cross the ions +2 and -3, drop the charge then write it as subscript so the
final formula is Pb3N2. The ion of Lead is +2.
How to name Pb3N2?
Pattern of Naming:
Chemical Metal name (Roman Numeral Nonmetal -ide Stock Name
Formula of ion of metal) roots
1. Pb3N2 Lead (II) nitr -ide Lead (II) nitride

Ex.2: Cu2O, subscript 2 is for oxygen and the charge of Cu is 1. Refer to table 1 and 2 for
charges.
Pattern of Naming:
Chemical Metal name (Roman Numeral Nonmetal -ide Stock Name
Formula of ion of metal) roots
1. Cu2O Copper (I) ox -ide Copper (I) oxide

Ex. 3. SnS , in this chemical formula you will observe that there is no subscript written after
the symbol of Tin(Sn) and Sulfur (S). Refer to table 1 and 2. The ion of Sn is +2 and +4 and S
is -2. In this case the ion used by Sn is +2 while the S is -2.
A. The notation is Sn+2S-2
B. Criss-cross the ions then write it as subscript then drop the charge. It results to Sn 2S2.
C. The subscript in this chemical formula (Sn2S2) can be reduce to lowest term Sn1S1.
D. Since subscript 1 is not written in a chemical formula so the final formula is SnS.
Pattern of Naming:
Chemical Metal name (Roman Numeral Nonmetal -ide Stock Name
Formula of ion of metal) roots
1. SnS Tin (II) Sulf -ide Tin (II) sulfide
Note:
1. Always check the ion of the nonmetal (2nd element) in the chemical formula. If it doesn’t
match to its charge written in table 1 then it means that the subscript (atom) is reduced to
its lowest term.
2, In naming, use the original ion of the metal element, NOT the ion in its lowest term.

Ex. 4. In SnO2, the ion of Tin is +2 while O is 1. But based on table 2 the ion of Oxygen is -2, so
what does it means? Meaning the subscript (atom) of the elements reduced to lowest term.
In this case the ion used by Sn is +4 while the O is -2.
A. The notation is Sn+4O-2
B. Criss-cross the ions then write it as subscript then drop the charge. It results to Sn 2O4.
C. The subscript 2 and 4 can be reduced to lowest term so the final formula is SnO 2.
Chemical Metal name (Roman Numeral Nonmetal -ide Stock Name
Formula of ion of metal) roots
1. SnO2 Tin (IV) ox -ide Tin (IV) oxide

B. CLASSICAL SYSTEM:
Some of the transition metals' charges have specific Latin names. Just like the
other nomenclature rules, the ion of the transition metal that has the lower charge has the
Latin name ending with -ous and the one with the the higher charge has a Latin name
ending with -ic.
Table 3.
ELEMENT Latin roots Metal ion Classical name
Cu + - Cuprous
+2 - Cupric
Copper Cupr- Cu
Pb+2 - Plumbous
+3 - Plumbic
Lead Plumb- Pb
Sn2+ - Stannous
- Stanic
Tin Stann- Sn4+
Co+2 - Cobaltous
- Cobaltic
Cobalt Cobalt- Co+3
` Ni+2 - Nickelous
- Nickelic
Nickel- Ni+3
Nickel
Fe2+ - Ferrous
Fe3+ - Ferric
Iron Ferr-
Hg22+ - Mercurous
Mercur- Hg2+ - Mercuric
Mercury
Au+ - Aurous
Au+3 - Auric
Gold Aur-
Sb+3 - Antimonous
Sb+5 - Antimonic
Antimony Antimon-
As+3 - Arsenous
As+5 - Arsenic
Arsenic Arsen-

Ex 1. Au3N- the ion of gold (Au) is 1, while N is 3.

Naming pattern.
Chemical Classical name Nonmetal -ide Classical system
Formula roots
1. Au3N Aurous nitr -ide Aurous nitride
Note: -ous is used as suffix (AUROUS) because between +1 and +3 ions of gold, +1 ion
is used in this formula. It is the lower ion of Gold (Au).
Ex 1. AuF3- the ion of gold (Au) is 3, while F is 1.
Naming pattern
Chemical Classical name Nonmetal -ide Classical system
Formula roots
1. AuF3 Auric fluor -ide Auric fluoride
Note: -ic is used as suffix (AURIC) because between +1 and +3 ion of gold, +3 ion is used in
this formula. It is the higher ion of Gold (Au).
 Always check the subscript in the chemical formula if it is expressed in lowest term.
Activity 2
Name Me

A. Write the stock name of the following binary ionic compounds.

 Chemical Formula Charge of metal Stock Name
Ex. PbO +2 Lead (II) oxide
1. FeCl3
2. Sb4C5
3. Hg3P2
4, SnBr2
5, Cu2O

B. Identify the charge (ion) of the metal, determine if it is the lower or higher charge of the
element and write the correct classical name of the compound.
Chemical Charge of Lower or Higher ion of the Classical Name
Formula metal metal element
Ex. PbO +2 Lower ion Plumbous oxide
1. FeCl3
2. Sb4C5
3. Hg3P2
4, SnBr2
5, Cu2O

Key Concept:
 A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically
bonded together
 A compound that contains ions and is held together by ionic bonds is called an ionic
compound.
 Nomenclature is the process of naming chemical compounds with different names so
that they can be easily identified as separate chemicals
 A binary ionic compound is composed of ions of two different elements - one of which is
a metal, and the other a nonmetal. The compound name has an ending of –ide
 The transition metals may form more than one ion
 . Stock ystem is indicated by assigning a Roman numeral after the metal. The Roman
numeral denotes the charge and the oxidation state of the transition metal ion.
 Classical system uses the Latin name ending with -ous and the one with the the higher
charge has a Latin name ending with -ic.

Name:__________________________ Yr & Sec:__________________Date:_____

Assessment
Nomenclature: Binary Ionic Compound

I. Matching Type: Match the chemical formula in column A to the chemical sysmbol
in column B. Write the letter of your answer.
A B
_____1. Al2S3 a. Calcium oxide
_____2. AuCl3 b. Sodium sulfide
_____3. Fe2O3 c. Plumbous Iodide
_____4. Na2S d. Iron (III) oxide
_____5. KCl e. Aluminum Sulfide
_____6. SnF2 f. Lead (III) Nitride
_____7. SnO g. Auric chloride
_____8. CaO h. Stannous oxide
_____9. PbN i. Potassium chloride
_____10.PbI2 j. Tin (II) fluoride
k. Ferrous oxide
II. Write the Stock name and classical system of the following binary ionic
compounds.

Chemical formula Stock system Classical system

1. CoF2
2. Co2S3
3. FeF2
4. Fe4C3
5. CuCl
6. Cu3N2

III. Multiple choice. Choose the letter of your answer and write it in the space provide
below
______1. What is the correct name of this compound, Ca3N2?
a. Calcium (II) nitride c. Calcium nitrogen
b. Calciumous nitride d. Calcium nitride

_____ 2. What is the stock name of this compound, SnC?

a. Tin (I) carbide c. Tin (III) carbide
b. Tin (II) carbide d. Tin (IV) carbide

_____3. What is the charge of Lead in Plumbic bromide PbBr3?

a. +1 c. +3
b. -1 d. -3

____4. Which of the following is the correct classical name of this compound, As2S3?
a. Arsenic (II) Sulfide c. Arsenous sulfide
b. Arsenic (III) sulfide d. Arsenic sulfide

____ 5. Which of the following is a binary compound?

a. Na2SO4 c. O2
b. CaCl2 d. Mg3(PO4)2

Name:_______________________________ Yr & Sec:_____________ Date:_____

Activity 1
Inonic or Molecular compound
1.__________________________________ 5.__________________________________
2.__________________________________ 6.__________________________________
3.__________________________________ 7.__________________________________
4.__________________________________
Activity 1
Inonic or Molecular compound
A. Write the correct name of the following binary ionic compounds.
 Chemical Formula Name of the compound
1. KF
2. Na3N
3. Ca3 P2
4. AlF3
5. MgO
B. . Identify the charge (ion) of the metal, determine if it is the lower or higher charge of the
element and write the correct classical name of the compound.

Chemical Formula Metal Element Nonmetal element

1. KF
2. Na3N
3. Ca3 P2
4. AlF3
5. MgO
Activity 2
Name Me
A. Write the stock name of the following binary ionic compounds.
Chemical Formula Charge of metal Stock Name
Ex. PbO +2 Lead (II) oxide
1. FeCl3
2. Sb4C5
3. Hg3P2
4, SnBr2
5, Cu2O
B. . Identify the charge (ion) of the metal, determine if it is the lower or higher charge of the
element and write the correct classical name of the compound.
Chemical Charge of Lower or Higher ion of the Classical Name
Formula metal metal element
Ex. PbO +2 Lower ion Plumbous oxide
1. FeCl3
2. Sb4C5
3. Hg3P2
4, SnBr2
5, Cu2O