Naming Compounds Handout

IONIC COMPOUNDS versus MOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (or MOLECULES)

ionic compound: consist of cations (positive ions) and anions (negative ions) held
together by electrostatic attraction
– usually metal + nonmetal(s)
– made of monatomic ions, polyatomic ions, and/or both
– monatomic ions: consist of a single atom
– polyatomic ions: consist of more than one atom

molecular compound: consist of nonmetal atoms held together by covalent bonds

(or molecule) – acid: a molecule that releases H+ ions in water

NAMING MONATOMIC CATIONS:

Metal atoms lose valence electrons to form positively charged ions, called cations.

An ion formed from an individual atom is a monatomic (or monoatomic) cation.

I. Groups IA to IIA elements, aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd)
form only one type of ion each:
+ + + + +
– Group IA elements form +1 ions: Li , Na , K , Rb , Cs
+2 +2 +2 +2 +2
– Group IIA elements form +2 ions: Be , Mg , Ca , Sr , Ba
+3 + +2 +2
– aluminum ion = Al ; silver ion = Ag ; zinc ion = Zn ; cadmium ion = Cd
These ions are named as follows: element name + ion
+ +2 +2
e.g. Na = sodium ion Sr = strontium ion Zn = zinc ion

II. The Stock system is used to name transition metals, Sn, and Pb that each form more
than one ion:

element name(charge in Roman numerals) + ion

+2 +
e.g. Fe = iron (II) ion +2 Cu = copper (I) ion
+3
Pb = Lead( II) ion +2
Fe = iron (III) ion +4 Cu = copper (II) ion
Pb = Lead (IV) ion
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GIVEN THE CHEMICAL FORMULA, NAME THE COMPOUND

WHEN THE METAL CATION FORMS ONLY ONE CHARGE:

1. If the metal is in Groups IA–IIA, aluminum, silver, cadmium, or zinc, then just
name the metal cation and the anion:

e.g. NaCl → Na+ → sodium and Cl− → chloride → NaCl = sodium chloride
BaI2 → Ba2+ → barium and I− → iodide → BaI2 = barium iodide
Al(OH)3 → Al3+ → aluminum, OH− → hydroxide → Al(OH)3 = aluminum hydroxide
ZnSO4 → Zn2+ → zinc and SO4−2 → sulfate → ZnSO4 = zinc sulfate

WHEN THE METAL CATION FORMS MULTIPLE CHARGES:

2. If the metal can form more than one ion,
a. Use the charge on the anion to determine the overall negative charge.
b. Since an ionic compound is neutral (overall charge is zero), the overall positive
charge must equal the overall negative charge.
c. If there is more than one of the cation present, divide the overall positive charge by
the number of cations present to get the charge for each cation.
d. Name the cation and the anion, then remove “ion” from both

e.g. Ni Br2 → Br has a -1 charge → so 2 Br

–
= -2
+2
→ overall positive charge = +2 → Ni
+2 –
→ Ni = nickel (II) ion Br = bromide ion
→ NiBr2 = nickel (II) bromide

If a polyatomic ion is involved, remember that more than one polyatomic is

shown in parentheses—i.e. DO NOT confuse the subscripts of the ATOMS
in a polyatomic ion with the number of polyatomic ions present!

e.g. Fe2(SO4)3 → SO4 has a -2 charge → so 3 SO4 = -6

–2

→ overall positive charge = +6 → 2 Fe = +6

+3
→ each Fe must be +3 → Fe
+3 –2
→ Fe = iron (III) ion SO4 = sulfate ion
→ Fe2(SO4)3= iron(III) sulfate

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NAMING POLYATOMIC IONS:
Ions made up of more than one atom are polyatomic ions:
+
– only one polyatomic cation: NH4 = ammonium ion
– many polyatomic anions: see table below

Common Polyatomic Ions

NH4+ ammonium ion SO4−2 sulfate ion NO3− nitrate ion
SO3−2 sulfite ion NO2− nitrite ion
PO4−3 phosphate ion
CrO4−2 chromate ion CN− cyanide ion CO3−2 carbonate ion
C2H3O2− acetate ion OH− hydroxide ion HCO3− hydrogen carbonate ion
MnO4− permanganate ion (or bicarbonate ion)

Be able to use the table above to name and determine the formula of compounds with
polyatomic ions.

WRITING CHEMICAL FORMULAS GIVEN INDIVIDUAL IONS

Compounds must be neutral → total +ve charge = total –ve charge

1. If the two ions have exactly opposite charges (+1 and –1, +2 and –2, +3 and –3)
→ formula of the compound contains one of each ion
+ – + –
e.g. Na + Cl → NaCl K + NO3 → KNO3
+2 –2 +2 –2
Ca + S → CaS Ba + SO4 → BaSO4
+3 –3 +3 –3
Al + N → AlN Fe + PO4 → FePO4

Combine each pair of ions to get the formula of the compound they form:

+ – + –
NH4 + F → __________________ Li + CN → ______________________

+2 –2 +3 –3
Sr + CO3 → __________________ Al + PO4 → __________________

+ – + –
Na + C2H3O2 → __________________ K + OH → __________________

+2 –2 +3 –3
Ni + CrO4 → __________________ Fe + N → __________________

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 2a. If two monatomic ions have different charges
→ use the crossover method to get the formula of the compound
– The superscript for the cation becomes the subscript for the anion.
– The superscript for the anion becomes the subscript for the cation.
– Finally, simplify subscripts to get the lowest ratio of ions.
(Note: Only the NUMBERS cross down, not the signs!)

e.g. Na+ S–2 Ba+2 N–3 Ti+4 O–2

Na2S Ba3N2 TiO2
Ti2O4 is simplified!

b. If two ions have different charges and at least polyatomic ion is involved
→ use crossover rule to get formula of the compound
– if more than one of polyatomic ion in formula, use parentheses
– simplify subscripts to get lowest ratio of atoms
(Note: Again only the numbers cross down, not the signs!)

e.g. NH4+ O–2 Ca+2 NO3– Pb+4 CO3–2

(NH4)2O Ca(NO3)2 Pb(CO3)2
Pb2(CO3)4 is simplified!

Combine each pair of ions to get the formula of the compound they form:

+ –2 +4 –2 + –3
Cu O Sn SO4 K P

+ –2 +3 –2 +2 –3
Li CO3 Fe S Ni PO4

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