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IR-5 Compositional Nomenclature and Overview of Names of

Ions and Radicals (Draft March 2004)

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CONTENTS

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IR-5.1 Introduction
IR-5.2 Stoichiometric names of elements and binary compounds

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IR-5.3 Names of ions
IR-5.3.1 General

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IR-5.3.2 Cations
IR-5.3.2.1 General

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IR-5.3.2.2 Monoatomic cations
IR-5.3.2.3 Homopolyatomic cations

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IR-5.3.2.4 Heteropolyatomic cations
IR-5.3.3 Anions
IR-5.3.3.1 Overview
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IR-5.3.3.2 Monoatomic anions
IR-5.3.3.3 Homopolyatomic anions
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IR-5.3.3.4 Heteropolyatomic anions

IR-5.4 Generalised stoichiometric names
IR-5.4.1 Electropositive and electronegative constituents; order of citation
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IR-5.4.2 Indication of proportions of constituents

IR-5.4.2.1 Use of multiplicative prefixes
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IR-5.4.2.2 Use of charge and oxidation numbers

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IR-5.4.2.3 Multiple monoatomic constituents vs. homopolyatomic

constituents
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IR-5.5 Names of addition compounds

IR-5.6 Final remarks
IR-5.7 References
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IR-5.1 INTRODUCTION
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Compositional nomenclature is formally based on composition, not structure, and may thus
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be the (only) choice if little or no structural information is available or a minimum of

structural information is to be conveyed.
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The simplest type of compositional name is a stoichiometric name, which is just a reflection
of the empirical formula (Section IR-4.2.1) or the molecular formula (Section IR-4.2.2) of

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the compound. In stoichiometric names, proportions of constituent elements may be indicated

in several ways, using numerical prefixes, oxidation numbers or charge numbers.

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In some cases, a compound may be viewed as composed of constituents that may themselves

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be given names of any of several types (including stoichiometric names), and the overall

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name of the compound is then assembled from the names of the constituents so as to indicate
the proportions of the constituents. One category of such compositional names is

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generalised stoichiometric (see Section IR-5.4) in which the various parts may themselves be
names of mono- and polyatomic ions. For this reason, Section IR-5.3, devoted to the naming
of ions, is included. Another category consists of the names devised for addition compounds

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which have a format of their own, described in Section IR-5.5.

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IR-5.2 STOICHIOMETRIC NAMES OF ELEMENTS AND NEUTRAL BINARY
COMPOUNDS

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A purely stoichiometric name carries no information about the structure of the compound.
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This section deals with stoichiometric names of neutral compounds. Stoichiometric names of
ions are described in Section IR-5.3.
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In the simplest case, the species to be named consists of only one element, and the name is
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formed by adding the relevant multiplicative prefix to the element name (e.g. S8, octasulfur).
This case is dealt with more fully in Sections IR-3.4.2 and IR-3.5.2.
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When constructing a stoichiometric name for a binary compound, one element is designated
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as the electropositive constituent and the other the electronegative constituent. The
electropositive constituent is by convention the element that occurs last in the sequence of
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Table VI* (except that oxygen is placed between chlorine and fluorine) and its name is the
unmodified element name (Table I). The name of the electronegative constituent is
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constructed by modifying the element name with the ending 'ide', as explained in detail for
monoatomic anions in Section IR-5.3.3.2. All element names thus modified with the 'ide'
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ending are given in Table IX.

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The stoichiometric name of the compound is then formed by combining the name of the
electropositive constituent, cited first, with that of the electronegative constituent, both suitably
qualified by any necessary multiplicative prefixes ('mono', 'di', 'tri', 'tetra', 'penta', etc., given in
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Table IV). The numerical prefixes precede the names they multiply, and are joined directly to
them without spaces or hyphens. The final vowels of numerical prefixes should not be elided

* Tables numbered with a Roman numeral are collected together at the end of this book.

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(although monoxide, rather than monooxide, is an allowed exception through general use).
The two parts of the name are separated by a space.

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Stoichiometric names may correspond to the empirical formula or to a molecular formula

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different from the empirical formula (compare Examples 3 and 4 below).

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Examples:

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1. HCl hydrogen chloride
2. NO nitrogen oxide, or nitrogen monooxide, or nitrogen monoxide
3. NO2 nitrogen dioxide

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4. N 2O 4 dinitrogen tetraoxide

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5. Cl2O dichlorine oxide
6. ClO2 chlorine dioxide
7. Fe3O4 triiron tetraoxide
8.
9.
10.
SiC
SiCl4
Ca3P2
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silicon carbide
silicon tetrachloride
tricalcium diphosphide, or calcium phosphide
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11. NiSn nickel stannide
12. Cu5Zn8 pentacopper octazincide
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13. Cr23C6 tricosachromium hexacarbide

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Multiplicative prefixes need not be used in binary names if there is no ambiguity about the
stoichiometry of the compound (such as in Example 10 above). The prefix 'mono' is, strictly
speaking, superfluous and is only needed for emphasizing stoichiometry when discussing
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compositionally related substances, such as Examples 2, 3 and 4 above.

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Alternatively, proportions of constituents may be indicated by using oxidation numbers or

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charge numbers (Section IR-5.4.2).

Pr

For compounds containing more than two elements, further conventions are required to form
a compositional name (see Sections IR-5.4 and IR-5.5).
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IR-5.3 NAMES OF IONS

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IR-5.3.1 General
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The charges of the atoms need not be specified in a stoichiometric name. In many cases,
however, atoms or groups of atoms are known to carry a particular charge. Within
compositional nomenclature, the name of a compound can include the names of individual

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such ions constructed as stoichiometric names or according to other principles, as described

below.

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IR-5.3.2 Cations

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IR-5.3.2.1 General

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A cation is a monoatomic or polyatomic species having one or more positive charges. The
charge on a cation can be indicated in names and formulae by using the charge number or, in
the case of additively named cations, by the oxidation number(s) of the central atom or atoms.

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Oxidation and charge numbers are discussed in Section IR-5.4.2.2.

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IR-5.3.2.2 Monoatomic cations

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The name of a monoatomic cation is that of the element with an appropriate charge number
appended in parentheses. Unpaired electrons in monoatomic cations may be indicated using a
radical dot, i.e. a centred dot placed in parentheses after the name, with a numerical prefix if
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necessary.
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Examples:
1. Na+ sodium(l+)
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2. Cr3+ chromium(3+)
3. Cu+ copper(1+)
4. Cu2+ copper(2+)
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5. I+ iodine(1+)
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6. H+ hydrogen(1+), hydron
7. 1H + protium(1+), proton
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8. 2H + deuterium(1+), deuteron
9. 3H + tritium(1+), triton
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10. He • + helium(•1+)
11. O •+ oxygen(•1+)
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The names of the hydrogen isotopes are discussed in Section IR-3.3.2.

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IR-5.3.2.3 Homopolyatomic cations

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Homopolyatomic cations are named by adding the charge number to the stoichiometric name
of the corresponding neutral species, i.e. the element name with the appropriate numerical
prefix. A radical dot or radical dots may be added to indicate the presence of unpaired
electrons.

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Examples:
1. O2+ or O2•+ dioxygen(1+) or dioxygen(•1+)

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2. S42+ tetrasulfur(2+)

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3. Hg22+ dimercury(2+)

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4. Bi54+ pentabismuth(4+)
5. H 3+ trihydrogen(1+)

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IR-5.3.2.4 Heteropolyatomic cations

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Heteropolyatomic cations are usually named either substitutively (see Section IR-6.4) or

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additively (see Chapter IR-7). Substitutive names do not require a charge number, because
the name itself implies the charge (Examples 2 and 4 below). A radical dot or radical dots
may be added to an additive name to indicate the presence of unpaired electrons.

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A few cations have established and still allowed non-systematic names.
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Examples:
1. NH4+ azanium (substitutive), or ammonium (allowed non-
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systematic)
2. H 3O + oxidanium (substitutive), or oxonium (allowed non-
systematic)
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3. PH4+ phosphanium (substitutive)

4. H4O2+ oxidanediium (substitutive)
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5. SbF4+ tetrafluorostibanium (substitutive), or

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tetrafluoridoantimony(1+) or tetrafluoridoantimony(V)
(both additive)
BH3•+
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6. boraniumyl (substitutive) or trihydridoboron(•1+) (additive)

More examples are given in Table IX.

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IR-5.3.3 Anions
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IR-5.3.3.1 Overview
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An anion is a monoatomic or polyatomic species having one or more negative charges. The
charge on an anion can be indicated in the name by using the charge number or, in the case of
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an additively named anion, by the oxidation number(s) of the central atom or atoms.
Oxidation and charge numbers are discussed in Section IR-5.4.2.2.

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The endings in anion names are 'ide' (monoatomic or homopolyatomic species,

heteropolyatomic species named from the parent hydride), 'ate' (heteropolyatomic species
named additively), and 'ite' (used in a few names which are still allowed but do not derive

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from current systematic nomenclature). When there is no ambiguity, the charge number may

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be omitted, as in Example 1 below. Parent hydride-based names do not carry charge

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numbers, because the name itself implies the charge (Examples 3 and 4 below).

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Examples:
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1. Cl chloride(1_), or chloride
_
2. S 22 disulfide(2_)

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_
3. PH2 phosphanide

me
_
4. PH2 phosphanediide
5. [CoCl4] 2_ tetrachloridocobaltate(2_), or tetrachloridocobaltate(II)
_
dioxidonitrate(1_), or nitrite

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6. NO2

IR-5.3.3.2 Monoatomic anions

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The name of a monoatomic anion is the element name (Table I) modified so as to carry the
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anion designator 'ide', either formed by replacing the ending of the element name ('en', 'ese',
'ic', 'ine', 'ium', 'ogen', 'on', 'orus', 'um', 'ur', 'y', or 'ygen') by 'ide' or by directly adding 'ide' as an
ending to the element name.
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Examples:
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1. chlorine, chloride
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2. carbon, carbide
3. xenon, xenonide
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4. tungsten, tungstide
5. bismuth, bismuthide
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In one case, an abbreviated name has to be chosen: germanium, germide. The systematic
_
name 'germanide' designates the anion GeH3 .
C
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Some names of monoatomic anions are based on the root of the Latin element names. In
these the ending 'um' or 'ium' is replaced by 'ide'.
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Examples:
6. silver, argentum, argentide
7. gold, aurum, auride
8. copper, cuprum, cupride

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9. iron, ferrum, ferride

10. lead, plumbum, plumbide
11. tin, stannum, stannide

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12. sodium, natrium, natride

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13. potassium, kalium, kalide

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All element names thus modified are included in Table IX.

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Charge numbers and radical dots may be added as appropriate to specify the anion fully.

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Examples:

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_
14. O2 oxide(2_), or oxide
15. O •− oxide(•1−)
_
16. N3 nitride(3_), or nitride

IR-5.3.3.3 Homopolyatomic anions om

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Homopolyatomic anions are named by adding the charge number to the stoichiometric name
of the corresponding neutral species, i.e. the element name with the appropriate numerical
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prefix. Again, a radical dot or dots may be added as appropriate.

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In a few cases, non-systematic names are still allowed alternatives.

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Examples:
Systematic name Alternative name
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_
1. O2 or O2•− dioxide(1_) or
dioxide(•1−) superoxide
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_
2. O 2
2 dioxide(2_) peroxide
_
trioxide(1_)
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3. O3 ozonide
_
4. I3 triiodide(1_)
5. Cl2•− dichloride(•1−)
C

_
6. C22 dicarbide(2_) acetylide
_
trinitride(1_)
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7. N3 azide
_
8. S 22 disulfide(2_)
_
9. Sn52 pentastannide(2_)
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_
10. Pb94 nonaplumbide(4_)

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In some cases, homopolyatomic anions may be considered as derived from a parent hydride
by removal of hydrons (see Section IR-6.4).

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Examples:

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_
10. O 22 dioxidanediide

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_
11. S 22 disulfanediide

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IR-5.3.3.4 Heteropolyatomic anions

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Heteropolyatomic anions are usually named either substitutively (see Section IR-6.4.4) or
additively (see Chapter IR-7 and Section IR-9.2.2). A radical dot, or dots, may be added to

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additive names to indicate the presence of unpaired electron(s).

A few heteropolyatomic anions have established and still allowed non-systematic names.

Examples:
_
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azanide (substitutive), dihydridonitrate(1_) (additive),
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1. NH2
or amide (allowed non-systematic)
_
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2. GeH3 germanide (substitutive), or

trihydridogermanate(1_) (additive)
_
3. HS sulfanide (substitutive), or hydridosulfate(1_) (additive)
na

_
4. H 3S sulfanuide or λ4-sulfanide (both substitutive),
or trihydridosulfate(1_) (additive)
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5. H 2S•− sulfanuidyl or λ4-sulfanidyl (both substitutive),

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or dihydridosulfate(•1−) (additive)
_
6. SO32 trioxidosulfate(2_) (additive), or sulfite (allowed non-
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systematic)
_
7. ClO oxidochlorate(1_) (additive), or
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hypochlorite (allowed non-systematic)

_
8. ClO3 trioxidochlorate(1_) (additive), or
chlorate (allowed non-systematic)
C

_
9. [PF6] hexafluoro-λ5-phosphanuide (substitutive), or
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hexafluoridophosphate(1_) (additive)
_
10. [CuCl4]2 tetrachloridocuprate(II) (additive)
11. [Fe(CO)4] 2_ tetracarbonylferrate(_II) (additive)
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All allowed, but not fully systematic, anion names are given in Table IX.

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Note that in Ref. 1, radical anions consisting of only hydrogen and one other element were
named additively using the ending 'ide' rather than the ending 'ate' (e.g. Example 5 above).
Making this exception to the general system of additive nomenclature for these particular

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cases is now discouraged.

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When one or more hydron(s) are attached to an anion at an unknown position(s), or at a
position(s) which one cannot or does not wish to specify, a 'hydrogen name' (see Section IR-

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8.4) may be used. Such names may also be used for simpler compounds, such as partially
dehydrogenated oxoacids. Certain of these names have accepted abbreviated forms, such as
hydrogencarbonate, dihydrogenphosphate, etc. All such accepted abbreviated names are given

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in Section IR-8.5.

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Examples:
_
12. HMo6O19 hydrogen(nonadecaoxidohexamolybdate)(1_)

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_
13. HCO3 hydrogen(trioxidocarbonate)(1_), or hydrogencarbonate
_
14. H2PO4 dihydrogen(tetraoxidophosphate)(1_),
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or dihydrogenphosphate
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IR-5.4 GENERALISED STOICHIOMETRIC NAMES

IR-5.4.1 Electropositive and electronegative constituents; order of citation

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The constituents of the compound to be named are divided into formally electropositive and
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formally electronegative constituents. There must be at least one electropositive and one
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electronegative constituent. Cations are electropositive and anions electronegative, by

definition. Electropositive elements occur later in Table VI than electronegative elements,
ov

except that oxygen is placed between chlorine and fluorine by custom.

In principle, the division into electropositive and electronegative constituents is arbitrary if the
Pr

compound contains more than two elements. In practice, however, there is often no problem
in deciding where the division lies.
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The names of the electropositive constituents precede those of the electronegative constituents
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in the overall name. The order of citation is alphabetical within each class of constituents
(multiplicative prefixes being ignored), except that hydrogen is always cited last among
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electropositive constituents if actually classified as an electropositive constituent.

This principle for constructing generalised stoichiometric names parallels the principle for
constucting 'generalised salt formulae' in Section IR-4.4.3.4. However, the order of citation in

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a generalised stochiometric name is not necessarily the same as the order of symbols in the
corresponding generalised salt formula, as is seen from Examples 5 and 7 below.

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The following generalised stoichiometric names, based only on single-element constituents,

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do not carry information about the structure.

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Examples:

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1. IBr iodine bromide
2. PBrClI phosphorus bromide chloride iodide
3. ArHF or ArFH argon hydrogen fluoride, or argon fluoride hydride

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4. ClOF or ClFO chlorine oxygen fluoride or chlorine fluoride oxide

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5. CuK5Sb2 or K5CuSb2
copper pentapotassium diantimonide, or
pentapotassium cupride diantimonide

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Note from these examples that the order of any two elements in the name depends on the
arbitrary division of elements into electropositive and electronegative constituents. (The same
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applies to the order of the element symbols in the formulae as illustrated in Section IR-
4.4.3.4). Additive names representing the actual structure of the compounds in Examples 3
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and 4 (FArH and FClO, respectively) are given in Section IR-7.2.

na

In some cases, the use of substitutive or additive nomenclature for naming an ion is not
possible or desirable because of the lack of structural information. In such cases, it may be
best to give a stoichiometric name and add the charge number. Parentheses are needed to
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make it clear that the charge number is associated with the entire compound.
isi

Example:
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6. Cl2O2+ (dichlorine dioxide)(1+)

Pr

However, when names of polyatomic ions occur as constituents in a generalised

stoichiometric name, a certain amount of structural information is often implied by the name.
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Example:
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7. NaNH4[HPO4] ammonium sodium hydrogenphosphate

IR-5.4.2 Indication of proportions of constituents

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IR-5.4.2.1 Use of multiplicative prefixes

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The proportions of the constituents, be they monoatomic or polyatomic, may be indicated in

generalised stoichiometric names by numerical prefixes, as was the case for the constituents
of binary compounds (Section IR-5.2).

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Examples:

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1. Na2CO3 disodium trioxidocarbonate, or sodium carbonate
2. K4[Fe(CN)6] tetrapotassium hexacyanidoferrate

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3. PCl3O phosphorus trichloride oxide
4. KMgCl3 magnesium potassium trichloride

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When the name of the constituent itself starts with a multiplicative prefix (as in disulfate,

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dichromate, triphosphate, tetraborate, etc.), or when ambiguity could otherwise arise, the
alternative multiplicative prefixes 'bis', 'tris', 'tetrakis', 'pentakis', etc. (Table IV) are used and
the name of the group acted upon by the alternative prefix is placed in parentheses.

Examples:
5. Ca(NO3)2
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calcium bis(trioxidonitrate), or calcium nitrate
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6. (UO2)2SO4 bis(dioxidouranium) tetraoxidosulfate
7. Ba[BrF4]2 barium bis(tetrafluoridobromate)
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8. U(S2O7)2 uranium bis(disulfate)

9. Ca3(PO4)2 tricalcium bis(phosphate)
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10. Ca2P2O7 calcium diphosphate

11. Ca(HCO3)2 calcium bis(hydrogencarbonate)
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IR-5.4.2.2 Use of charge and oxidation numbers

isi

It is possible to provide information on the proportions of the constituents in names by using

ov

one of two other devices: the charge number, which designates ionic charge, and the oxidation
number, which designates oxidation state. In nomenclature, the use of the charge number is
Pr

preferred as the determination of the oxidation number is sometimes ambiguous and

subjective. It is therefore advisable to use oxidation numbers only when there is no
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uncertainty about their assignment.

PA

The charge number is a number whose magnitude is the ionic charge. It is written in
parentheses immediately after the name of an ion, without a space. The charge is written in
arabic numerals, followed by the sign of the charge. Note that unity (1) is always indicated,
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unlike in superscript charge designations (which are used in formulae). No charge number is
used after the name of a neutral species.

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Examples:
1. FeSO4 iron(2+) sulfate
2. Fe2(SO4)3 iron(3+) sulfate

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3. (UO2)2SO4 dioxidouranium(1+) sulfate

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4. UO2SO4 dioxidouranium(2+) sulfate
potassium hexacyanidoferrate(4_)

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5. K4[Fe(CN)6]
6. [Co(NH3)6]Cl(SO4) hexaamminecobalt(3+) chloride sulfate

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The oxidation number (see Sections IR-4.6.1 and IR-9.1.2.8) of an element is indicated by a
Roman numeral placed in parentheses immediately following the name (modified by the

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ending 'ate' if necessary) of the element to which it refers. The oxidation number may be

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positive, negative or zero (represented by the numeral 0). An oxidation number is always
non-negative unless the minus sign is explicitly used (the positive sign is never used). Non-
integral oxidation numbers are not used for nomenclature purposes.

Example:
7. PCl5
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phosphorus(V) chloride
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8. Na[Mn(CO)5] sodium pentacarbonylmanganate(_I)
9. [Fe(CO)5] pentacarbonyliron(0)
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Several conventions are observed for inferring oxidation numbers, the use of which is
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particularly common in the names of compounds of transition elements. Hydrogen is

considered positive (oxidation number I) in combination with non-metallic elements and
negative (oxidation number _I) in combination with metallic elements. Organic groups
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combined with metal atoms are treated sometimes as anions (for example, a methyl ligand is
isi

_
usually considered to be a methanide ion, CH3 ), sometimes as neutral (e.g. carbon
monooxide). Bonds between atoms of the same species make no contribution to oxidation
ov

number.
Pr

Examples:
10. N 2O nitrogen(I) oxide
C

11. NO2 nitrogen(IV) oxide

12. Fe3O4 iron(II) diiron(III) oxide
PA

13. MnO2 manganese(IV) oxide

14. CO carbon(II) oxide
15. FeSO4 iron(II) sulfate
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16. Fe2(SO4)3 iron(III) sulfate

17. SF6 sulfur(VI) fluoride
18. (UO2)2SO4 dioxidouranium(V) sulfate

DRAFT 2 April 2004 Page 12 of 16

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19. UO2SO4 dioxidouranium(VI) sulfate

20. K4[Fe(CN)6] potassium hexacyanidoferrate(II), or
potassium hexacyanidoferrate(4_)

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21. K4[Ni(CN)4] potassium tetracyanidonickelate(0), or

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potassium tetracyanidonickelate(4_)
sodium tetracarbonylferrate(_II), or

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22. Na2[Fe(CO)4]
sodium tetracarbonylferrate(2_)

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23. [Co(NH3)6]Cl(SO4) hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride sulfate, or
hexaamminecobalt(3+) chloride sulfate
24. Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 iron(III) hexacyanidoferrate(II), or

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iron(3+) hexacyanidoferrate(4_)

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Note that oxidation numbers are no longer recommended when naming homopolyatomic
ions. This is to avoid ambiguity. Oxidation numbers refer to the individual atoms of the

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element in question, even if they are appended to a name containing a multiplicative prefix, cf.
Example 12 above. To conform to this practice, dimercury(2+) (see Section IR-5.3.2.3)
would have to be named dimercury(I); dioxide(2_) (see Section IR-5.3.3.3) would be
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dioxide(_I); and ions such as pentabismuth(4+) (see Section IR-5.3.2.3) and dioxide(1_)
(see Section IR-5.3.3.3), with fractional formal oxidation numbers, could not be named at all.
lR

IR-5.4.2.3 Multiple monoatomic constituents vs. homopolyatomic constituents

na

Care should be taken to distinguish between multiple monoatomic constituents and

polyatomic constituents. This distinction is often not apparent from the formula, but is tacitly
o

implied.
isi

Examples:
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1. TlI3 thallium tris(iodide), or thallium(III) iodide, or

thallium(3+) iodide
Pr

2. Tl(I3) thallium (triiodide), or thallium triiodide(1_),

or thallium(I) (triiodide)
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Both compounds in Examples 1 and 2 have the overall formula TlI3 and both could be named
PA

by the simple stoichiometric name thallium triiodide. However, it is possible _ and usually
desirable _ to convey more information in the name.
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_
The compound in Example 1 consists of iodide, I , and thallium, in the proportion 3:1,
_
whereas the compound in Example 2 consists of triiodide(1_), I3 , and thallium in the
proportion 1:1. In the simple stoichiometric name for the first compound, then, the numerical

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prefix 'tris' is used to make it completely clear that three iodide ions are involved rather than
one triiodide ion. The alternative names use the oxidation number III for thallium and the
charge number 3+, respectively, to convey the proportions of the constituents.

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In the first name in Example 2, the parentheses indicate that the electronegative constituent is

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a homopolyatomic entity. The second name is even more informative in giving the charge of
the anion, and this can also be indicated indirectly by using the oxidation number for thallium

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as shown in the third name.

Examples:

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3. HgCl2 mercury dichloride, or mercury(II) chloride,

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or mercury(2+) chloride
4. Hg2Cl2 dimercury dichloride, or (dimercury) dichloride,
or dimercury(2+) chloride

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In Example 4, the first name is purely stoichiometric, whereas the second name contains more
information in indicating that the compound contains a homodiatomic cation. In the last
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name, where the charge of the dication is specified, the prefix 'di' for 'chloride' is not
necessary.
lR

Examples:
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5. Na2S3 disodium (trisulfide)

(this indicates the presence of the polyatomic anion),
or sodium trisulfide(2_)
o

(with the charge on the anion indicated, the numerical prefix

isi

on the cation is not necessary)

6. Fe2S3 diiron tris(sulfide), or iron(III) sulfide
ov

_
Salts which contain anions that are composed of Sn2 chains, as well as those containing
Pr

_
several S2 anions, are both referred to as 'polysulfides' but, as demonstrated, names may be
given that provide a distinction between these cases.
C

Examples:
PA

7. K 2O dipotassium oxide
8. K 2O 2 dipotassium (dioxide), or potassium dioxide(2_)
9. KO2 potassium (dioxide), or potassium dioxide(1_)
IU

10. KO3 potassium (trioxide), or potassium trioxide(1_)

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 15

Clearly, a simple stoichiometric name like 'potassium dioxide', although strictly speaking
unambiguous (referring to the compound in Example 9), could easily be misinterpreted. In
other cases, based on chemical knowledge, there is no chance of misinterpretation in practice,

s
and the simple stoichiometric name will most often be used, as in Examples 11 and 12 below.

n
tio
Examples:
11 BaO2 barium dioxide (simple stoichiometric name), or
barium (dioxide), or barium dioxide(2_) (specifies dianion)

da
12. MnO2 manganese dioxide (simple stoichiometric name), or
manganese bis(oxide), or manganese(IV) oxide

n
(this specifies two oxide ions rather than a dianion)

me
IR-5.5 NAMES OF ADDITION COMPOUNDS

om
The term addition compounds covers donor-acceptor complexes and a variety of lattice
compounds. The method described here, however, is relevant not just to such compounds, but
also to multiple salts and to certain compounds of uncertain structure.
ec
The names of the individual components of such a generalised addition compound are
lR

constructed by using an appropriate nomenclature system, whether compositional,

substitutive or additive. The overall name of the compound is then formed by connecting the
na

names of the components by 'em' dashes; the proportions of the components are indicated
after the name by a stoichiometric descriptor consisting of arabic numerals separated by a
solidus. The descriptor, in parentheses, is separated from the compound name by a space.
o

The sequence of names of the individual components is the same as the sequence in the
isi

formula (Section IR-4.4.3.5). In addition compounds, the name of H2O is 'water'. The term
'hydrate' has a specific meaning, i.e. a compound containing water of crystallization bound in
ov

an unspecified way.
Pr

Examples:
1. BF3.2H2O boron trifluoride—water (1/2)
2. .
8Kr 46H2O krypton—water (8/46)
C

3. 3CdSO4.8H2O cadmium sulfate—water (3/8)

PA

4. . .
Al2(SO4)3 K2SO4 24H2O
aluminium sulfate—potassium sulfate—water (1/1/24)
5. CaCl2.8NH3 calcium chloride—ammonia (1/8)
IU

6. AlCl3.4EtOH aluminium chloride—ethanol (1/4)

7. BiCl3.3PCl5 bismuth(III) chloride—phosphorus(V) chloride (1/3)
8. 2Na2CO3.3H2O2 sodium carbonate—hydrogen peroxide (2/3)

Page 15 of 16 DRAFT 2 April 2004

 16

9. Co2O3.nH2O cobalt(III) oxide—water (1/n)

IR-5.6 FINAL REMARKS

n s
Compositional names are either of the stoichiometric type (which, furthermore, are of the

tio
binary type except in the case of homoatomic species) or of the addition compound type.
Compositional nomenclature is used if little or no structural information is to be conveyed by

da
the name. However, substitutive or additive nomenclature may be used to indicate the
structure of constituents of a compound that is named overall by compositional

n
nomenclature. Substitutive nomenclature is described in Chapter IR-6 and additive
nomenclature in Chapters IR-7, IR-8, and IR-9.

me
IR-5.7 REFERENCES

1.
om
Names for Inorganic Radicals, Pure Appl. Chem., 72, 437 (2000).
ec
lR
o na
isi
ov
Pr
C
PA
IU

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