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Learning Objectives
Compounds
Atoms of the same or different elements can combine in set
proportions to form compounds. The proportions are determined by
the numbers of electrons shared or exchanged between elements.
This combining power of elements is most readily learned by
memorizing each element's common charge or valence. You can think of
valence as something similar to a connecting link for building blocks.
Some atoms only can form one link with other atoms while others may
form multiple links.
Naming Ionic Compounds
We can learn the nomenclature of common ionic inorganic compounds
by memorizing the following tables of common ions.
Sometimes clusters of atoms are called groups and we learn a charge for
the group as a whole. The order of the letters in a group should be
maintained when writing the formula.
The elements and groups with positive charges (cations) are written and
named first as in the case of LiF, lithium fluoride and NH4Cl,
ammonium chloride.
Note that some metals have more than one common charge and we use a
Roman Numeral to designate which ion is present in the compound such
as iron(III)...read as iron 3. If a metal only has one common charge, the
Roman Numeral is not used.
The anions that are formed from single atoms are named by dropping
the elemental suffix and adding "-ide".
The overall charge of an ionic compound should be zero. When you
combine atoms or groups to form a compound, the key is to make sure
that the overall charges are balanced.
There is a clever way to arrive at the formula when you have elements
or groups that have different charges. Use the charge of each element or

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group as the subscript for the other element or group as shown in the
following animation.

Table of Cations
+1 charge +2 charge +3 charge +4 charge

H+ Ca2+ Al3+ Si4+

hydrogen calcium aluminum silicon

Li+ Be2+ Fe3+ Sn4+

lithium beryllium iron(III) tin(IV)

K+ Ba2+ Pb4+
potassium barium lead(IV)

Na+ Cu2+
sodium copper(II)

Ag+ Fe2+
silver iron(II)

Cu+ Mg2+
copper(I) magnesium

NH4+ Zn2+
ammonium zinc

Sn2+
tin(II)

Hg2+
mercury(II)

Ni2+
nickel

Pb2+
lead(II)

Table of Anions
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-1 charge -2 charge -3 charge -4 charge

F- fluoride O2- oxide PO43- phosphate C4- carbide

Cl- chloride S2- sulfide P3- phosphide

Br- bromide CO32- carbonate N3- nitride

I- iodide SO42- sulfate

OH- hydroxide HPO42- hydrogen

phosphate

CN- cyanide

HCO3- bicarbonate*

NO2- nitrite

NO3- nitrate

CH3CO2- acetate

H2PO4- dihydrogen
phosphate

HSO4- hydrogen
sulfate

* The name "bicarbonate" is actually a common name. It is given here

because it is so commonly used. The proper chemical name for this
group is "hydrogen carbonate". Sometimes it is hard to know what a
substance is from the common name.
Examples of Ionic Inorganic Compounds
Try to figure out the name or formula and then click on the formula or
name to see the correct answer.
Fe2O3
ammonium nitrate
MgCl2

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sodium bicarbonate
CaCO3
mercury(II) sulfide
Naming Molecular Compounds
Most elements can be drawn by just using the symbols. However, the
most stable form for many elements is a compound rather than the
individual atom. The most common examples of these binary (2 atom)
compounds are shown in the following table.
hydrogen H2
nitrogen N2
oxygen O2
fluorine F2
chlorine Cl2
bromine Br2
iodine I2

The non-ionic inorganic compounds (molecular inorganic compounds)

are similar to these compounds but are combinations of two or more
nonmetallic elements. Most of these compounds are combinations of
elements from Groups IVA to VIIA with one another or with hydrogen.
When a hydrogen atom forms compounds with the nonmetals, the
hydrogen atom is named first and the nonmetal is named as if it were a
negative ion.
hydrogen fluoride...The (g) for (gas state) must be shown since HF
HF (g) in a solution of water is called hydrofluoric acid. This is also done
with HCl, HBr and HI. They are all in the same family.

H2S (g) hydrogen sulfide...In a water solution this would be called

hydrosulfuric acid.

The following compounds are exceptions to this rule...

H2O water...It is not known as dihydrogen oxide.
NH3 ammonia...It is not known as trihydrogen nitride.
methane...The compounds composed of carbon have
CH4
their own special names.
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When other elements combine to form binary compounds, the formula is

usually written by putting the elements in order of increasing group
number.
The number of atoms is given by a prefix, such as "mono", "di",
"tri", "tetra", "penta", "hexa", "hepta" and "octa"...for 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7 and 8.
Always use the entire prefix except for monooxide...which is
named monoxide.
Never use the mono prefix for the first element and always use a
prefix for the second element.
CO carbon monoxide
NO nitrogen monoxide
N2O dinitrogen monoxide...laughing gas
PCl3 phosphorus trichloride
CCl4 carbon tetrachloride

Examples of Molecular Inorganic Compounds

Try to figure out the name or formula and then click on name or the
formula to check your answer.
SO2
nitrogen dioxide
HBr (g)
sulfur trioxide
HCl (g)
carbon dioxide
Deciding Which Nomenclature Rules to Follow
1. Determine whether the compound is an ionic compound or a
molecular compound.
If a metal is present, the compound is an ionic compound for the
purposes of this course. If no metal is present, the compound is
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a molecular compound.

If the ammonium ion, NH4+ is present, the compound is ionic.

2. If the compound is ionic, use the names and charges given in the
tables.
3. If the compound is a molecular compound, use the rules for naming
binary molecular compounds.
Additional Nomenclature Problems
Return to Reviews of Concepts
Return to Inorganic Chemistry Tutorials
Copyright � January 2001 by Richard C. Banks...all rights reserved.

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