Naming Compounds (IUPAC Nomenclature)

When early chemistry began to flourish, scientists selected names for common
substances. These names were randomly selected, usually to reflect some outstanding
property or feature of a substance. For instance, copper sulphate was commonly referred to
as bluestone, simply because this compound looks like blue stones. As more and more
compounds were discovered, it became apparent that a systematic method of naming
(nomenclature) was needed. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemists (IUPAC)
developed a naming system, parts of which you will be introduced to in this unit of study.
There are generally 2 purposes for this naming system:

1) To provide a nomenclature that would be recognized internationally so that chemists

around the world could effectively communicate with one another.

2) To provide a systematic approach to naming chemicals so that new compounds could

easily be named according to existing nomenclature

PART I - BINARY COMPOUNDS

A binary compound is a compound that is made up of only 2 elements.

Type A: Covalent Compounds A non-metal element bonded to another non-metal

element.

► when naming these compounds the prefix system must be used

► the less electronegative element is written first
► the number of atoms of each element is indicated by using the appropriate prefix before
the element name
► the prefix "mono" is not to appear at the beginning of a name
► learn the following:

1 mono 6 hexa
2 di 7 hepta
3 tri 8 octa
4 tetra 9 nona
5 penta 10 deca

example: SO2 sulphur dioxide

a) P2S3 d) carbon monoxide

b) SF4 e) nitrogen trihydride

c) P2O4

SALTS (see Types B and C below)

► a compound in which a cation (excluding H+) is bonded to an anion (excluding OH - )

► the anion can be single ion or polyatomic
Type B: A metal element bonded to a non-metal element. (but not an acid)
The cation has only one possible valence

1. Naming

Example: NaCl sodium chloride

► name of metal element written first

► name of non-metal element written last
► suffix of non-metal element changed to end in "ide"
► space between the 2 names
► capitals only used if the name of the compound begins a sentence

a) MgO c) Al2O3

b) NaF d) LiH

2. Writing formula

► write the symbol for the metal element first, the non-metal element second.
► mentally mark in the valence numbers above each element
► bring the valence numbers (oxidation numbers) into the subscripts after crisscrossing
► eliminate any signs (+ or - ) and omit any 1's.
► reduce the subscripts to lowest terms if possible,

Example: sodium oxide

a) magnesium chloride b) magnesium oxide c) lithium phosphide

Type C: A metal element bonded to a non-metal element

The cation is divalent.

a) Stock nomenclature

► many transition elements have more than one possible valence

► the name of the compound must identify which cation is present
► the valence state (oxidation state) is identified by using a Roman numeral in brackets
following the name of the metal ion
► called the Stock system after the chemist who first used it

example: mercury(II) chloride HgCl2

1. Writing formula using Stock nomenclature:
► same rules as for other binary ionic compounds
► but as stated above the valence of the cation is identified by using the Roman numeral
of its valence

examples:

a) lead(II) chloride d) copper(I) sulfide

b) iron(III) nitride e) lead(IV) oxide

c) iron(II) oxide

2. Naming the-compound using Stock nomenclature

► when the formula is examined
■ identify whether or not the cation is on the divalent list
■ the valence state of the cation must be determined
► to determine cation valence
▪ cross back the subscripts to an imaginary position above the element
▪ omit the + and -
▪ verify that this matches the valence of the anion
▪ if it doesn't determine the factor needed to make the anion valence match
▪ multiply cation valence by same factor

example: 3 1 -the valence of Cl is 1, so the valence of Fe must be 3

FeCl3 iron(III) chloride

a) SnCl4 c) Fe2O3

b) PbO2 d) CuF

b) Latin Nomenclature

► applies to elements that are capable of possessing 2 valence numbers

iron - ferrum lead - plumbum

tin - stannum copper - cuprum

► The Latin name replaces the Stock system for naming the cation involved.
► The "ous suffix is used to represent the lower valence state.
► The "ic" suffix is used to represent the higher valence state.

Examples:

Cu1+ cuprous Cu2+ cupric

a) plumbic chloride c) Fe2O3

b) stannous oxide d) PbBr2

Type D Binary Acids

► Binary acids are characterized by a formula displaying hydrogen bonded to a non-metal

element.
► The formula for a binary acid always shows hydrogen at the front.
► Binary acids are aqueous solutions of the corresponding gas

These are the only examples of binary acids:

PART II - COMPOUNDS THAT ARE NOT BINARY

Polyatomic Ions

► a charged particle consisting of 2 or more atoms bonded to each other

1. Writing the formula of compounds with polyatomic ions

► recognize that any compound name ending in "ate" or “ite" contains a polyatomic ion
► the other common polyatomic ions are the ammonium (NH4+) cation and the hydroxide
(OH-) and cyanide (CN-) anions (see list)
► place the ions as you would in writing a binary formula, imagining the valence above the
ions
► before you crossover place the polyatomic ion in brackets
► place the crossed over number outside of the bracket as a subscript
► note that the polyatomic ion is NOT changed from its original form
► if the subscript is " 1 " remove the brackets
example: sodium chlorate magnesium chlorate
+1 -1 +2 -1
Na ClO3 Mg ClO3

NaClO3 Mg(ClO3)2

a) calcium nitrate c) lead(II) carbonate

b) tin(II) phosphate d) magnesium sulphate

2. Naming compounds with polyatomic ions:

► the same rules apply as discussed for binary compounds

► the trick is to recognize that a polyatomic ion is present in the compound

a) Na2SO4 c) Zn3(PO4)2

b) AgNO3 d) CuCO3

OXYACIDS
► Oxyacids are made up of 3 or more elements
► Two of the three elements are oxygen and hydrogen.
► The other element is a non-metal.
► Hydrogen always appears at the beginning of an acid formula.
► Most oxyacids involve a bond between hydrogen and a polyatomic ion.

Naming Oxyacids
Recall: Polyatomic ions ending in "ate". (acids end in “ic”)

polyatomic number of H+ oxyacid

ion combined formed
nitrate NO3- H+ HNO3 nitric acid
chlorate ClO3- H+ HClO3 chloric acid
carbonate CO32- 2 H+ H2CO3 carbonic acid
sulphate SO42- 2 H+ H2SO4 sulphuric acid
phosphate PO43- 3 H+ H3PO4 phosphoric acid

Recall: Polyatomic ions ending in "ite". (acids end in “ous”)

polyatomic number of H+ oxyacid

ion combined formed
nitrate NO2- H+ HNO2 nitrous acid
chlorate ClO2- H+ HClO2 chlorous acid
carbonate CO22- 2 H+ H2CO2 carbonous acid
sulphate SO32- 2 H+ H2SO3 sulphurous acid
phosphate PO33- 3 H+ H3PO3 phosphorous acid

HYDRATES

► Some salts retain water upon evaporation.

► As a result, the crystal lattice of the salt incorporates a specific number of water
molecules into its structure
► Hydrates are named by writing down the salt name followed by
o a dot
o prefix to indicate the number of water molecules and the word hydrate (no
space between)

Examples:

a) CuSO4 • 5H2O c) cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate

b) Ba(OH)2 • 8H2O d) lithium chloride tetrahydrate

Peroxides

Simply write the formula of the oxide, and add one extra oxygen atom.

Example:

sodium oxide ___________ water ___��---------

sodium peroxide __________ peroxide _____________

Note: Do not reduce subscripts

Monatomic Gases

The group 8 gases are referred to as noble gases. Because of their stable octet of outer electrons, these
gases usually remain as discrete monatomic particles.

He ______________ Ne ___________

Kr______________ Ar ____________

Xe ______________ Rn ____________

Diatomic Gases

The molecules of these elemental gases consists of pairs of identical atoms. There are only seven
elemental diatomic gases that are commonly encountered.

Recall: "HOFBrlNCI"

H2(gJ __________ l,(g) __________

02(g) __________ N21,1 __________

F2181 __________ Ch<,J __________

Br2181 __________

Note: phosphorous and sulfur exist as molecules in their standard state

phosphorous ________

sulfur ----------