Rules for Naming Ionic Compounds Containing Polyatomic Ions

Polyatomic ions are ions which consist of more than one atom. For example, nitrate ion,
NO
3
-
, contains one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms. The atoms in a polyatomic ion
are usually covalently bonded to one another, and therefore stay together as a single,
charged unit.

Rule 1. The cation is written first in the name; the anion is written second in the name.

Rule 2. When the formula unit contains two or more of the samepolyatomic ion, that ion is
written in parentheses with the subscript written outside the parentheses.
Note: parentheses and a subscript are not used unless more than one of a
polyatomic ion is present in the formula unit (e.g., the formula unit for
calcium sulfate is "CaSO
4
" not "Ca(SO
4
)").


Rule 3. If the cation is a metal ion with a fixed charge, the name of the cation is the same
as the (neutral) element from which it is derived (e.g., Na
+
= "sodium"). If the cation is a
metal ion with a variable charge, the charge on the cation is indicated using a Roman
numeral, in parentheses, immediately following the name of the cation (e.g., Fe
3+
=
"iron(III)").

Rule 4. If the anion is a monatomic ion, the anion is named by adding the suffix -ide to
the root of the element name (e.g., I
-
= "iodide").

Note: Greek prefixes are not used to indicate the number of atoms, or polyatomic ions, in
the formula unit for the compound (e.g., Ca(NO
3
)
2
is named "calcium nitrate" not "calciuim
dinitrate").
Rules for Naming Ionic Compounds Containing Polyatomic Ions
Polyatomic ions are ions which consist of more than one atom. For example, nitrate ion,
NO3-, contains one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms. The atoms in a polyatomic
ion are usually covalently bonded to one another, and therefore stay together as a single,
charged unit.

Rule 1. The cation is written first in the name; the anion is written second in the name.

Rule 2. When the formula unit contains two or more of the samepolyatomic ion, that ion is
written in parentheses with the subscript written outside the parentheses.
Note: parentheses and a subscript are not used unless more than one of a polyatomic ion
is present in the formula unit (e.g., the formula unit for calcium sulfate is "CaSO4" not
"Ca(SO4)").


Rule 3. If the cation is a metal ion with a fixed charge, the name of the cation is the same
as the (neutral) element from which it is derived (e.g., Na+ = "sodium"). If the cation is a
metal ion with a variable charge, the charge on the cation is indicated using a Roman
numeral, in parentheses, immediately following the name of the cation (e.g., Fe3+ =
"iron(III)").

Rule 4. If the anion is a monatomic ion, the anion is named by adding the suffix -ide to the
root of the element name (e.g., I- = "iodide").

Note: Greek prefixes are not used to indicate the number of atoms, or polyatomic ions, in
the formula unit for the compound (e.g., Ca(NO3)2 is named "calcium nitrate" not
"calciuim dinitrate").


How to Name Ionic Compounds Containing Polyatomic Ions
A new chemistry student will want to make it a priority to learn how to name ionic
compounds containing polyatomic ions. Of course, the general rules for naming ionic
compounds and also for naming binary ionic compounds will be essential. Learn these
skills and you will be on your way to being a top-rate chemistry student.

Instructions
1.
o 1
Name ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions the same way as other ionic
compounds, but use the polyatomic ion name whenever it occurs. (See Related eHows,
"How to Name Ionic Compounds" and "How to Name Binary Ionic Compounds."
o 2
Pull up a table of common polyatomic ion names from a website when naming ionic
compounds (See Resources). Name NaNO2 like this: Na+ is sodium, a cation, NO2- is
the polyatomic ion nitrite; sodium nitrite is the name of the ionic compound with a
polyatomic ion.
o 3
Know that some metals form more than one kind of cation. For instance, chromium,
iron and cobalt all have a 2+ cation and a 3+ cation. Tin and lead both have a 2+ cation
and a 4+ cation. Note this in the name of the ion by Roman numerals. For instance,
write iron(II) or iron(III), tin(II) or tin(IV) according to the charge.
o 4
Understand that the overall charge on an ionic compound is always neutral. Use the
name of the polyatomic ion in the compound with the name of the metal with the
Roman numeral charge noted. For example, the name for FeSO4 is iron(II) sulfate.
Because SO4 is the sulfate polyatomic ion, and it has a charge of 2-, the overall charge of
the ionic compound iron(II) sulfate is a neutral charge.
o 5
Recognize when an ionic compound contains two polyatomic ions and use both names
for the name of the compound. For example, NH4 is ammonium, NO3 is nitrate. Both of
these are polyatomic ions. Together the name for this ionic compound containing
polyatomic ions is ammonium nitrate.