Common Names and Systematic Names of Compounds

The systematic names of compounds were established according to the rules of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
(IUPAC). This set of rules is called nomenclature is used to systematically name over 10 million compounds known today. However,
these rules were not recognized long after many chemical compounds were known by many different names, or their common names.
The common names (as opposed to the systematic names) of many compounds are still used today.
Table 9.1 Some Common and Scientific Names of Compounds

Formula Systematic Name Common Name

NaHCO 3 Sodium hydrogen carbonate

Baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate
NaCIO❑ Sodium hypochlorite Bleach(liquid)
H 2 O2 Hydrogen peroxide “Agua oxygenada”
NaCl❑ Sodium Chloride Table salt

The Crisscross Method

A chemical formula is a shorthand representation of compounds using symbols and oxidation numbers. There are several types of
chemical formulas for a compound:
1. Empirical formula- this shows the relative number of atoms of each element in the compound. It is the simplest type of formula
and is derived from the masses of the component element.
2. Molecular formula- this shows the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule of a compound.
3. Structural formula- this shows the actual number of atoms and the bonds between them; that is, the arrangement of atoms in
the molecule.
A simple way to learn to write chemical formulas is to use the crisscross method:
1. Write the symbol for each element (or formula for ions).
2. On the upper right hand, write the oxidation number above each element.
3. Cross the oxidation number (the absolute number) of one element to the other element. The oxidation number will be the
subscript of the other element.
4. Rewrite the formula and drop the charges.

CaCl2

5. Reduce the subscript to their simplest form, if needed. Metal may have fixed (only one) and variable (more than one) oxidation
numbers. The periodic table comes in handy when trying to find out whether the metal has fixed or variable oxidation state.
6. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a compound must be equal to zero.
To determine the total oxidation number, multiply the subscript by the
oxidation number.
Example: CaCl2
Calcium = (oxidation number) (subscript) = (+2) (1) = +2
Chlorine = (oxidation number) (subscript) = (-1) (2) = -2
Total oxidation number in CaCl3 = (+2) + (-2) = 0

7. The sum of the oxidation numbers in a polyatomic ion must be equal its charge.
8. The charge on an ion is its oxidation number.
Writing and Naming Formulas for Binary Compounds
A binary compound consist of two different kinds of elements. Binary ionic compounds contain two ions, one positively charged
(cation) and one negatively charged (anion) that react to form a compound.
Naming Binary Ionic Compounds
Ionic compounds may be composed of a metal that has a fixed oxidation number or a variable oxidation number and a nonmetal.
Metals with Fixed Oxidation Numbers
Cations or all metals found in groups 1A, 2A, and 3A (boron and aluminum only) have fixed oxidation numbers
 CaCl2
Example: 1. The cation is named first. Ca+2 would be called calcium.

2. Name the anion. Get the root of the name of the element and change its suffix to –ide.
Chlor- (root) + -ide Chloride Cl- would be called chloride.
3. Put the two words together to name the compound. Calcium chloride
Metals with Variable Oxidation Numbers
In naming compounds made from these elements, we can use either of the two systems. The first system is called the stock
system. This system indicates the metal’s ionic charge by writing it in writing it in Roman numerals within parentheses. The second
is the classical system. This uses the suffixes –ous and –ic with the Latin names of the metals to indicate the lower and higher
oxidation numbers.
Table 9.2 Elements with Variable Oxidation Numbers
Ion Stock System Classical System
+3
Fe Iron (III) Ferric
+2
Fe Iron (II) Ferrous
+2
Cu Copper (II) Cupric
+¿¿
Cu Copper (I) Cuprous
+3
Co Cobalt (III) Cobaltic
+2
Co Cobalt (II) Cobaltous
+¿¿
Hg Mercury (I) Mercurous
+2
Hg Mercury (II) Mercuric
+4
Sn Tin (IV) Stannic
+2
Sn Tin (II) Stannous
+4
Pb Lead (IV) Plumbic
+2
Pb Lead (II) Plumbous
Example 1.

Name this compound = Fe2 O 3

2 3 +3 −2
Fe O = Fe2 O 3

1. Determine the oxidation number of the cation. Crisscross the subscripts back to the exponent.
2. Name the cation. Iron (III) or Ferric
3. Name the anion changing the suffix to –ide, oxide
Answer: Iron (III) oxide or ferric oxide

Naming Binary Covalent Compounds

Generally a chemical formula is named firs and is immediately followed by the second element. It is preceeded by the prefix indicating
the number of subscript of the second non-metal with its root and the suffix –ide.
Table 9.3 Greek Prefixes Used in Naming Covalent Compounds
Greek Prefix Number Greek Prefix Number
mono- 1 hexa- 6
di- 2 hepta- 7
tri- 3 octa- 8
tetra- 4 nona- 9
penta- 5 deca- 10
Greek prefixes are used to indicate the subscripts. The first element has a prefix only when the subscript is more than one. The second
element always has a prefix.

Example 1: Write the name for P2 O 3 Diphosphorus trioxide

Example 2: Write the name for CO

carbon monoxide
Note that “monoxide” is written rather than ”oxide” when there is one atom of the second element involved. Note also that when one
element of the first atom is involved, no “mono” is used. Monocarbon monoxide is just as wrong as carbon oxide.
Writing and Naming Formulas for Ternary Compounds
 A ternary compound contains three or more elements. This could be a metal and a polyatomic ion or a hydrogen and a polyatomic ion.
Polyatomic ions are ions made up of more than one kind of atom. The atoms in a polyatomic ion are covalently bonded and retain their
identity within ionic compounds. Never change the subscripts in a polyatomic ion. The sum of the oxidation umbers in a polyatomic ion
is equal to the ion’s charge. The Greek method will not be used. That means, if you see a formula like CaSO 4 , the name is not
calcium monosulfur tetraoxide. It is calcium sulfate. When more than one polyatomic ion is required, parenthesis are used to enclose
the ion with the subscript written outside the parenthesis.
Table 9.4 Common Polyatomic Ions
Ion Name Ion Name
+¿¿ −2
NH 4 Ammonium O 2
Peroxide
+¿¿ −2
H3 O Hydronium CrO 4
Chromate
−¿¿ −2
NO 2 Nitrite Cr O
2 7
Dichromate
−¿¿ −¿¿
NO 3 Nitrate MnO 4
Permanganate
−2 −¿¿
SO 3 Sulfite C2 H O
3 2
Acetate
−2 −¿ ¿
SO 4 Sulfate CIO 4
Perchlorate
−¿¿ −¿ ¿
HSO 4 Hydrogen Sulfate CIO 3
Chlorate
−¿¿ −¿ ¿
OH Hydroxide CIO 2
Chlorite
−¿ ¿ −¿ ¿
CN Cyanide CIO Hypochlorite
−3 −¿ ¿
PO 4 Phosphate HCO3 Hydrogen carbonate
−¿¿ −2
HPO 4 Hydrogen Phosphate CO 3 Carbonate
−¿ ¿
H 2 PO 4 Dihydrogen Phosphate

Chemical Formula Writing Using Polyatomic Ions

Example 1: Write the formula for calcium nitrate.
+2 −¿ ¿
Ca NO 32 Ca (
Ca NO 3
NO 3¿ 2 ¿
Do the crisscross method Without a parenthesis, This is the correct formula, showing 2
oxygen would look like it atoms for the nitrate ion. Take note
has 32 atoms. that the formula must have zero total
charge.
Example 2: Write the formula for copper (II) chlorate.

+2
Cu CIO 3 Cu ¿

The Roman numeral will tell you This is the correct formula,
that copper has a +2 charge. showing 2 atoms for chlorate.

Example 3: Write the formula for plumbic hydroxide.

+4
Pb OH Pb OH 4 Pb ¿
This is a wrong formula We still need to add a parenthesis to
Plumbic means it has the because only hydrogen OH-, since the subscript 4 is for both
higher oxidation number. has a subscript 4. oxygen and hydrogen.

Naming Ternary Compounds

Example 1: Write the name for Fe ¿
+2

Determine the name of

Decide if the cation is variable or not. If
the polyatomic ion.
so, a Roman numeral will be needed. Iron must be a positive two, in −¿¿
Nitrate is the of NO 3
In this case, iron does show a variable order to keep the total charge
charge. of the formula at zero.
The correct name is iron (II)
nitrate or ferrous nitrate.
Always remember that the total charge of the atom should be equal to zero. Thus, to compute for the total charge, multiply the charge
of the cation by its subscript and also the polyatomic ion by the subscript outside its parenthesis. Then add the two. The sum must e
equal to zero.
Example: Fe ¿

Charge of the cation = x(1) + (-1)(3) = 0

Writing and Naming Inorganic Acids
Distinguishing Acids
Acids are an important group of hydrogen-containing compounds. Its formula starts with hydrogen (hydronium ion). The two types of
acids are nonoxyacids or binary acids (hydrogen + nonmetal) and oxyacids (hydrogen + polyatomic ion).
All binary acids are named by:
1. Starting with the prefix hydro-.
2. Adding the root of the anion.
3. Adding the suffix –ie.
4. Using the word acid as the second word in the name. For example, HCL is Hydrochloric acid.
The next example are acids with polyatomic ions or oxyacids: HCIO, HCIO 2, HCIO 3 , HCIO 4.
and
To name oxyacids you must:
1. Identify the polyatomic ion in the formula.
2. Change the suffix to –ous if it ends with an –ite.
3. Change the suffix to –ic, if it ends in –ate.
4. Then, add the word ‘acid’.
Example: HCIO
−¿ ¿
The polyatomic ion is CIO . Its name is hypochlorite. Change the suffix –ite to –ous and add the word acid. The name of HCIO is
hypochlorous acid.
Table 9.5 Summary of Nomenclature of Acids
Anion Suffix Replace Anion Suffix with: Examples
-ide hydro-, ic acid hydrobromic acid, HBr
-ite -ous acid nitrous acid, HNO2
-ate -ic acid sulfuric acid, H 2 SO4