Mark Julius Policarpio

Pauline Ann Prudencio

Carissa Lizette Punsalan

I BS MAC
Ateneo de Manila University

Experiment #3

CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE
objectives
This experiment aimed to:
 learn the language and nomenclature for elements,
ions and compounds with the use of the periodic table.

 help one realize that the periodic table is an invaluable

resource that not only lists element symbols, atomic
mass and the number of protons but it also provides
information on the type of element (metal vs.
nonmetal) and the charge of ions typically formed.
introduction
Before a systematic method of naming different
chemical substances was established, various
compounds were named after people, places, or things
like washing soda (sodium carbonate) and Glauber's
salt (sodium sulfate). Because of the vast number of
compounds known to man, numbering into the
millions, a system of naming was devised to prevent
total confusion from occurring.
chemical nomenclature
is the systematic naming of chemical compounds.
Compounds can be divided into two basic
categories, those which are true binary compounds
(containing only two types of elements), and those
which contain more than two different types of
elements. Lastly, there is also a system of naming
for organic (carbon-based) compounds.
1 Examine the periodic table and identify the
metals, metalloids and non-metals. If rules are
unclear go back
to step 1

2 With the given examples, compose a set

of rules to name compounds.
If you can’t
convert go back
3 Convert those provided in the tables. to step 2 – revise.

3A From chemical formulas to names

3B From names to chemical formulas

Key terms
 Ionic Compounds – when one element transfers its
electrons to another, it form this kind of compound

 Ions – charged particles that form when an atom gains or

loses electron(s)

 Binary Ionic Compounds – when a non-metal reacts with

a non-metal to form this kind of compound

 Cations – when an element (a metal) loses an electron, it

becomes this

 Anions – when an element (a non-metal) gains an

electron, it becomes this
Key terms
 Monatomic Ionic Compounds – an ion that only consists of
one element

 Covalent Compounds – when elements share electrons (this

usually occurs in non-metals)

 Covalent Bonds – a pair of electrons that are equidistant and

mutually attracted to two nuclei

 Chemical Bonds – the force(s) that hold atoms of different

elements together as a compound

 Polyatomic Ions – two or more atoms bonded covalently and

have a net positive/negative charge
binary ionic compounds
with main group elements
KCl ; Compound Name: Potassium Chloride

RULES:
 The two elements in this particular compound are
Potassium (K) and Chlorine (Cl)
 Potassium is a metal while Chloride is a non-metal
 Note how the metal is mentioned first in the
compound name while the non-metal is named
afterwards but the non-metal is given a different
suffix to it, the ­–ide.
binary ionic compounds
with main group elements
But first, there is an important table that we must
take into account (or it may just be referred to as a
trend in the periodic table concerning the different
elements):

1A(1) 2A(2) 3A(13) 4A(14) 5A(15) 6A(16) 7A(17) 8A(18)

+1 +2 +3 ±4 -3 -2 -1 /
binary ionic compounds
with main group elements
formula compound name formula compound name

Na2O sodium oxide NaBr sodium bromide

RbI rubidium iodide BeCl2 beryllium chloride

LiBr lithium bromide CaSe calcium selenide

CaF2 magnesium
calcium fluoride MgS sulfide

Cs3P cesium Al2O3 aluminum oxide

phosphide
binary ionic compounds
with transition metal cations
Stock System Older
Formula
(Name + Charge) (Ancient Elemental Names)
Cu+ Copper (I) Cuprous
Cu2+ Copper (II) Cupric
Co2+ Cobalt (II) Cobaltous
Co3+ Cobalt (III) Cobaltic
Fe2+ Iron (II) Ferrous
Fe3+ Iron (III) Ferric
Hg22+ Mercury (I) Mercurous
Hg2+ Mercury (II) Mercuric
Pb2+ Lead (II) Plumbous
Pb4+ Lead (IV) Plumbic
Sn2+ Tin (II) Stannous
Sn4+ Tin (VI) Stannic
Cr2+ Chrome (II) Chromous
Cr3+ Chrome (III) Chromic
Mn2+ Manganese /
Zn 2+ Zinc /
Cd2+ Cadmium /
Ag+ Silver /
binary ionic compounds
with transition metal cations
Fe2O3 ; Compound Name: Ferric Oxide or Iron (III) Oxide

RULES:
 The two elements in this particular compound are Iron (Fe) and
Oxygen (O)
 We understand the charge of Fe is (3+) because in the chemical
reaction, the superscripts of elements exchange as subscripts in the end
product and on the other hand, we understand the charge of O is (2-)
(since it is found in the Group 6A(16))
 Fe3+ is Iron (III) or known as Ferric as well so our first word would be
Ferric while our second word would be of Oxygen, but, it would have
the suffix –ide­, so it would be Ferric Oxide
binary ionic compounds
with transition metal cations
formula compound name formula compound name

MnF2 manganese (II) CoCl3

fluoride cobalt (III) chloride

Ni3P2 nickel (II) PtF4 platinum (lV)

phosphide fluoride

PbS2 Cr2O3 chromium (lll)

lead (lV) sulfide oxide

CuCl2 copper (II) Fe2S3 iron (lll) sulfide

chloride

PbO lead (II) oxide ZnCl2 zinc (ll) chloride

ionic compounds
with polyatomic ions

Formula Name
NO2- Nitrite
NO3- Nitrate
CO32- Carbonate
NH4+ Ammonium
HCO3- Hydrogen Carbonate (Bicarbonate)
HSO32- Hydrogen Sulfite (Bisulfite)
HSO42- Hydrogen Sulfate (Bisulfate)
CN- Cyanide
P4 - Phosphide
OH- Hydroxide
ionic compounds
with polyatomic ions
CsNO2 ; Compound Name: Cesium Nitrite

RULES:
 The net charge held by the NO2 polyatomic ion is -1. An element
with a charge of +1 can cancel the net charge of NO2 out
 Cs is found in Group 1A(1) so it would have a charge of +1; it
becomes Cs+
 Positive cancels out negative (and vice versa)
 Cs is a metal while NO2 is a non-metal
 Therefore, the first word should be Cesium while the second word
would be the name of the polyatomic ion, Nitrite
 It is then Cesium Nitrite
ionic compounds
with polyatomic ions
formula compound name formula compound name

Cu(OH)2 copper (II) Fe(C2H3O2)3

hydroxide iron (III) acetate

NaHCO3 sodium Sr3(PO4)2 strontium

bicarbonate phosphate

NH4 ammonium (NH4)3N

fluoride ammonium nitride

FeCO3 iron (II) KCN potassium cyanide

carbonate

Al(OH)3 aluminum Ca(C2H3O2)2 calcium acetate

hydroxide
binary covalent compounds with nonmetals

# Of Prefix The e le me nts in a covale nt

Atoms Equivalence comp ound are g e ne rally
1 Mono non-me tals and the y share
2 Di e le ctrons with e ach othe r
3 Tri as op p ose d to that of ionic
4 Tetra comp ound s. Some of the
5 Pental rule s/ ste p s of ionic
6 Hexa comp ound s d o not ap p ly
7 Hepta to covale nt b ond s such as
8 Octa the e xchang e of
9 Nonyl sup e rscrip ts as sub scrip ts
10 Deca or re g ard ing the ne t
charg e s.
binary covalent compounds with nonmetals

SO3 ; Compound Name: Sulfur Trioxide

RULES:
 S and O are both non-metals but S is more metallic than O
since it has a lower period than O, therefore our first word
would be Sulfur and Oxygen as our second word
 Note how many atoms of O there is, there are three (3)
atoms of O, so we use the appropriate prefix which is Tri
in this case, putting the proper prefix and the proper suffix
(-ide still applies), we get Trioxide
 Thus we get Sulfur Trioxide
binary covalent compounds with nonmetals

formula compound name formula compound name

ClO2 PI3 phosphorus

chlorine dioxide trioxide

PCl3 phosphorus BF3

trichloride boron trifluoride

S2F6 disulfur SF6

hexafluoride sulfur hexafluoride

P4 O 6 tetraphosphorus dioxygen
O2F2 difluoride
hexaoxide

NH3 nitrgen diboron

B2H6 hexahydride
trihydride
 acids and bases
Formula Compound Name (non aq) Compound Name (aq)
HCl Hydrogen Chloride Hydrochloric Acid
HNO3 Hydrogen Nitrate Nitric Acid
HBrO4 Hydrogen Perbromate Perbromic Acid

The re are g e ne rally two typ e s of acid s .

Binary Acid s are forme d whe n ce rtain g asse s d issolve in wate r. HCl
is a p olyatomic ion as we have se e n e arlie r thoug h HCl te nd s to b e
a g as g e ne rally, b ut whe n it is d issolve d in wate r, it b e come s a
solution and g e ts a ne w name as an acid , it b e come s Hyd ro chloric
Acid .

From the initial name : Hyd rog e n Chlorid e , the re is a ce rtain way of
g e tting Hyd rochloric Acid

Hydro + Non-me tal Root + -ic + Acid

Hydro + Chlor + ic + Acid = Hydroc hloric Acid
 acids and bases
Oxoacid s are similar to Oxoanions b ut the suffixe s are
chang e d (the p re fixe s –hypo and –pe r re main the same ). The
suffix –ate b e come s –ic in acid s while the suffix –ite b e com e s –
ous in acid s. So the one s with lowe r Oxyg e n atoms g e t to have
an –ous suffix while the one s with hig he r Oxyg e n atoms g e t to
have an –ic suffix.

Le t’s take for e xamp le HNO 3

NO 3 is Nitrate
We chang e the suffix –ate to –ic and g e t the word Nitric and
ad d Acid to it
We g e t Nitric Acid
hydrocarbons/alkanes
No. Of C Atoms Formula Prefix Compound Name
1 CH4 Meth Methane
2 C2H6 Eth Ethane
3 C3H8 Prop Propane
4 C4H10 But Butane
5 C5H12 Pent Pentane
6 C6H14 Hex Hexane
7 C7H16 Hept Heptane
8 C8H18 Oct Octane
9 C9H20 Non Nonane
10 C10H22 Deca Decane

Hyd r oca rb ons a r e simp le com p ound s m e r e ly comp ose d of C a nd H.

First of a ll, fr om for m ula to comp ound na m e , we e xa mine the d iffe r e nt e xa mp le s

g ive n a b ove .

Le t’s ta ke for e xam p le C H4 a nd its e q uivale nt com p ound nam e : Me tha ne

C H4 only has one (1) a tom of C in it so we g e t the ap p r op ria te p r e fix for it, in this
ca se , Me th
We a d d the a p p r op ria te p r e fix (Me th) to a ne
We the n g e t Me tha ne

The n we e xa mine how it is to r e lay fr om comp ound na m e to its e q uivale nt

for m ula .

The re is a ce r ta in for mula for Hyd r oca r b ons, this is d e rive d d ire ctly fr om how
ma ny C a tom s the r e a r e . This form ula , using the numb e r of C a tom s, g e ts how
ma ny H a toms a r e to b ond with it. To g e t the num b e r of H a toms to b ond with the
a p p r op r ia te num b e r of C a tom s, we ha ve :
H = 2C + 2; whe r e H = num b e r of H a toms a nd C = num b e r of C a toms
acids and bases
hydrocarbons/alkanes
formula compound name formula compound name

HCl (aq) hydrochloric acid CH4 methane

NaOH sodium hydroxide C2H6 ethane

HBrO4 (aq) perbromic acid C6H14 hexane

H2SO4 (aq) sulfuric acid C3H8 propane

Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide C4H10 butane

aluminium
Al(OH)3 hydroxide C11H24 hendecane
common errors
 Writing the wrong roman numeral for transition metals
ex. Hg2Cl2 Mercury II
Chloride instead of Mercury (I) Chloride

 Forgetting the formulas / charges of the different polyatomic

ions ex. SCN-
thiocyanate, charge is -1

 Incorrectly writing the prefixes of covalent compounds

ex. using the prefix
tetra- instead of tri- for elements with three atoms

 difficulty in naming binary acids and oxoacids

ex. HI Hydroiodic
acid, HClO4 Perchloric acid
exceptions
 For binary covalent compounds, the greek
prefix is not applied to the first element when
it is a single atom example: (NO2) Nitrogen
Dioxide instead of Mono-nitrogen Dioxide

 Roman numerals are not usually written with

silver, cadmium, and zinc example: (ZCl2)
Zinc Chloride instead of Zinc (II) Chloride
conclusion
Chemical nomenclature is the term given to the
naming of compounds. Chemists use specific rules
and "conventions" to name different compounds.
These can be used to convert chemical formulas to
names and vice versa. Familiarity with the types of
elements, polyatomic ions, charges, systems,
suffixes and prefixes is needed to correctly give the
answers. Finally, certain general formulas for
compounds are also applicable such as CnH2n+2 for
alkanes.
references
Martin S. Silberberg, Principles of General
Chemistry (2nd Edition)
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, September
25, 2010, 2010 (http://en.wikipedia.org/)
http://www.shodor.org/unchem/basic/nomen/in
dex.htm