Learning nomenclature is like learning a new language. It is the basic language of chemistry.
Ionic Compounds
An ionic compound is a metal combined with a non-metal or a polyatomic ion.When you are given a compound you always write the full name of the element that comes first then the second element ending in ide.
METAL= positive ion charge
NON-METAL= negative ion charge
1) NaCl = Sodium chloride
Read from left to right. Name the first element with its actual name (Sodium).
Nickname the second element and end with ide (chlorIDE).
ex) LiO = Lithium oxide
1) CuCl2= Copper (2) chloride
When dealing with transition metals you name the first element (copper) followed by its charge in brackets next to it (2). Then you write the second element with a nickname ending in ide (chlorIDE).
ex) Fe2S3 = Iron (3) sulfide
Polyatomic
a) Metal-polyatomic
Na2SO4 = Sodium sulfate
Name the first element and then refer to your polyatomic ion chart ant name the polyatomic ion.
b) Polyatomic - non-metal
NH4Br= Ammonium bromide.
Name polyatomic ion and then nickname element and end in ide.
Covalent Compounds
A covalent compound is a non-metal combined with a non-metal.
Follow the same rules as a regular ionic EXCEPT, you need to identify how many atoms of each element you have.
Ionic Compounds
An ionic compound is a metal combined with a non-metal or a polyatomic ion.When you are given a compound you always write the full name of the element that comes first then the second element ending in ide.
METAL= positive ion charge
NON-METAL= negative ion charge
1) NaCl = Sodium chloride
Read from left to right. Name the first element with its actual name (Sodium).
Nickname the second element and end with ide (chlorIDE).
ex) LiO = Lithium oxide
1) CuCl2= Copper (2) chloride
When dealing with transition metals you name the first element (copper) followed by its charge in brackets next to it (2). Then you write the second element with a nickname ending in ide (chlorIDE).
ex) Fe2S3 = Iron (3) sulfide
Polyatomic
a) Metal-polyatomic
Na2SO4 = Sodium sulfate
Name the first element and then refer to your polyatomic ion chart ant name the polyatomic ion.
b) Polyatomic - non-metal
NH4Br= Ammonium bromide.
Name polyatomic ion and then nickname element and end in ide.
Covalent Compounds
A covalent compound is a non-metal combined with a non-metal.
Follow the same rules as a regular ionic EXCEPT, you need to identify how many atoms of each element you have.
1) NO = Nitrogen monoxide
If the first element has only 1 atom there is no need to identify it. Find the prefix and name it (Nitrogen). For the second element you find the prefix (even if it is only one in this case you MUST put it) and nickname the compound ending in ide (monoxIDE).
ex) H2O = Dihydrogen monoxide
If the first element has only 1 atom there is no need to identify it. Find the prefix and name it (Nitrogen). For the second element you find the prefix (even if it is only one in this case you MUST put it) and nickname the compound ending in ide (monoxIDE).
ex) H2O = Dihydrogen monoxide