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Naming Inorganic Compounds

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16 views1 page

Naming Inorganic Compounds

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Aldrien
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SECTION 2.

8 Naming Inorganic Compounds 59

(c) Two NO3- ions are needed to balance the charge of one Mg 2+ , yielding Mg(NO3)2. Note
that the formula for the polyatomic ion, NO3 - , must be enclosed in parentheses so that it is
clear that the subscript 2 applies to all the atoms of that ion.

PRACTICE EXERCISE
Write the empirical formula for the compound formed by (a) Na + and PO43- , (b) Zn2+
and SO42- , (c) Fe 3+ and CO32- .
Answers: (a) Na3PO4, (b) ZnSO4, (c) Fe2(CO3)3

2.8 | NAMING INORGANIC COMPOUNDS


The names and chemical formulas of compounds are essential vocabulary in chemistry.
The system used in naming substances is called chemical nomenclature, from the
Latin words nomen (name) and calare (to call).
There are more than 50 million known chemical substances. Naming them all
would be a hopelessly complicated task if each had a name independent of all others.
Many important substances that have been known for a long time, such as water (H2O)
and ammonia (NH3), do have traditional names (called common names). For most sub-
stances, however, we rely on a set of rules that leads to an informative and unique name
for each substance, a name based on the composition of the substance.
The rules for chemical nomenclature are based on the division of substances into
categories. The major division is between organic and inorganic compounds. Organic
compounds contain carbon and hydrogen, often in combination with oxygen, nitrogen,
or other elements. All others are inorganic compounds. Early chemists associated organic
compounds with plants and animals and inorganic compounds with the nonliving por-
tion of our world. Although this distinction is no longer pertinent, the classification be-
tween organic and inorganic compounds continues to be useful. In this section we
consider the basic rules for naming three categories of inorganic compounds: ionic
compounds, molecular compounds, and acids.

Names and Formulas of Ionic Compounds


Recall from Section 2.7 that ionic compounds usually consist of metal ions combined with
nonmetal ions. The metals form the cations, and the nonmetals form the anions.
1. Cations
a. Cations formed from metal atoms have the same name as the metal:

Na + sodium ion Zn2+ zinc ion Al3+ aluminum ion

b. If a metal can form cations with different charges, the positive charge is indicated by
a Roman numeral in parentheses following the name of the metal:

Fe 2+ iron(II) ion Cu + copper(I) ion


Fe 3+ iron(III) ion Cu2+ copper(II) ion

Ions of the same element that have different charges have different properties,
such as different colors (씰 FIGURE 2.23).
Most metals that form cations with different charges are transition metals,
elements that occur in the middle of the periodic table, from group 3B to group 쑿 FIGURE 2.23 Different ions of the
2B. The metals that form only one cation (only one possible charge) are those of same element have different properties.
group 1A and group 2A, as well as Al3+ (group 3A) and two transition-metal Both substances shown are compounds of
ions: Ag + (group 1B) and Zn2+ (group 2B). Charges are not expressed when iron. The substance on the left is Fe3O4,
naming these ions. However, if there is any doubt in your mind whether a metal which contains Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. The
substance on the right is Fe2O3, which
forms more than one cation, use a Roman numeral to indicate the charge. It is contains Fe3+ ions.
never wrong to do so, even though it may be unnecessary.

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