Naming Inorganic

Compounds

Rule 1: Metals from Group Number 1,

2, 3 Bound to Non-Metals
The metal will take its positive oxidation
number and the non-metal will have to
take its negative oxidation number.

Only one compound can be formed

Name of
Metal

Root of
Non-metal

) -ide

Rule 1: Metals from Group Number 1,

2, 3 Bound to Non-Metals
Example 1: Sodium reacts with oxygen to
produce Na2O, what is the name of this
compound

Since there is only one possible compound,

we do not have to indicate the number of
elements

sodium oxide

Rule 1: Rule 1: Metals from Group

Number 1, 2, 3 Bound to Non-Metals
Example 2: What is the chemical formula
for aluminum oxide

First write the symbols of the elements

Next write the oxidation number of each
element above that element
Switch the oxidation numbers and reduce
3

-2
2

Al O

Comprehension Check
What is the name of Mg3N2?

magnesium nitride

What is the name of Li2Se?

lithium selenide

What is the formula for indium chloride?

InCl3

What is the formula for barium phosphide?

Ba3P2

Rule 2: Transition Metals Bound to

Non-Metals
Transition metals may have more than one
oxidation number
The metal will take one of its positive
oxidation numbers and the non-metal will
have to take its negative oxidation number.

Since the metal has more than one possible

oxidation number, multiple compounds can be
formed
We need a distinct name for each

Name of
Metal

)(

Metals Oxidation State

as a Roman Numeral

Root of
Non-metal

) -ide

Rule 2: Transition Metals Bound to

Non-Metals
Example 1: What is the name of IrBr 6?

First we need to determine how many electrons

that iridium needs to lose in order to satisfy 6
bromine atoms.
Each bromine needs one electron
There is only one iridium in this compound
Therefore, the iridium atom will have to supply all six
electrons, giving it a +6 oxidation number.

iridium(VI) bromide

Rule 2: Transition Metals Bound to

Non-Metals
Example 2: What is the formula for
mercury (II) nitride?

First write the symbols of the elements

Next write the oxidation number of each
element above that element
Switch the oxidation numbers and reduce
2

-3
3

Hg N

Comprehension Check
What is the name of RuN?

ruthenium(III) nitride

What is the name of MnO3

manganese(VI) oxide

What is the formula for paladium(IV)

bromide?

PdBr4

What is the formula for molybdenum(V)

sulfide?

Mo2S5

Rule 3: Nonmetals Bound to

Nonmetals
Using prefixes

The prefix mono- is only used on the second

element
Ex: PF3 is named phosphorus trifluoride

If two vowels are adjacent, leave them

Ex: NI3 is named nitrogen triiodide

In the case of monoxide only, drop one o

Rule 3: Nonmetals Bound to

Nonmetals
Since nonmetals have more than one
oxidation number, there will always be
more than one compound produced

Therefore we have to have a distinct name for

each compound
To do this we use a prefix to indicate how
many atoms of each element are present
One mono-

Five penta-

Two di-

Six hexa-

Three tri-

Seven hepta-

Four tetra-

Eight octa-

Rule 3: Nonmetals Bound to

Nonmetals
Ex 1: What is the name of P2S3?

diphosphorus trisulfide

Ex 2: What is the name of As7I3?

heptaarsenic triiodide

Ex 3: What is the chemical formula of

dihydrogen monoxide?

H2O

Ex 4: What is the chemical formula of

dinitrogen pentaoxide?

N2O5

Rule 4: Metals from Groups 1, 2, 3

Bound to Polyatomic Ions
Polyatomic Ions strongly bound group of
atoms that have either lost or gained
electrons and become charged.

List of common Polyatomic Ions are on the back

of your Periodic Table
Polyatomic ions act as a single atom, with a
single name
Subscripts within the ion cannot be changed
Since there is only one oxidation number for the
metals and Polyatomic Ion, only one compound
can be produced.

Rule 4: Metals with a single Oxidation

Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
Naming these compounds is just like rule
1, except we do not add ide to the end of
the polyatomic ion
Name of
Metal

Name of
Polyatomic Ion

Rule 4: Metals with a single Oxidation

Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the name of Mg(NO3)2

First, you should recognize that there are

more than two elements involved, which
means that a Polyatomic Ion is involved
Next, look up the Metal in the periodic table
and confirm that it has a single oxidation
number
Look up the name of the Polyatomic Ion
magnesium nitrate

Rule 4: Metals with a single Oxidation

Number Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the formula for calcium iodite?

First, since the second name does not end in

ide, a polyatomic ion is involved.
Write the symbol for calcium and formula for
iodite.
Write the oxidation numbers above the metal
and the polyatomic ion
Switch the numbers, and use parenthesis
around the polyatomic ion if necessary
2

-1
1

Ca (IO2 )

Comprehension Check
What is the name of KHSO4?

potassium hydrogen sulfate

potassium bisulfate

What is the name of In2(C2O4)3?

indium oxalate

What is the formula of strontium bromate?

Sr(BrO3)2

What is the formula for germanium

phosphate?

Ge3(PO4)4

Rule 5: Transition Metals Bound to

Polyatomic Ions
When the metal has more than one
possible oxidation number, more than one
compound can be formed

We must use Roman Numerals to indicate

which oxidation number the metal is using

Name of
Metal

Metals Oxidation State

Name of
as a Roman Numeral Polyatomic Ion

Rule 5: Transition Metals Bound to

Polyatomic Ions
What is the name of RhMnO4?

First, there are more than two elements involved

Look up the oxidation and name of MnO4
It could be permanganate (-1) or manganate (-2)

Finally, figure out which oxidation number the

metal is using.
If this is permanganate, rhodium would have to have a
+1 oxidation number, this is not possible for rhodium.
Therefore, this must be manganate, so rhodium would
have to take its +2 oxidation number

rhodium(II) manganate

Rule 5: Metals with Multiple Oxidation

Numbers Bound to Polyatomic Ions
What is the formula for nickel (II) ferrocyanide?

First, since the second name does not end in -ide, a

polyatomic ion is involved
Write the symbol for nickel and formula for
ferrocyanide
Write the oxidation numbers above the metal and the
polyatomic ion
Switch the numbers, and use parenthesis around the
polyatomic ion if necessary and reduce
2

-4
4

Ni (Fe(CN)6)
2

Comprehension Check
What is the name of Cr(IO)3?

chromium(III) hypoiodite

What is the name of CuMnO4?

copper(II) manganate or copper(I) permanganate

What is the formula for palladium(IV)

ferricyanide?

Pd3(Fe(CN)6)4

What is the formula for molybdenum(VI)

dichormate?

Mo(Cr2O7)3

Rule 6: Binary Acids

Acid any compound that is capable of
giving up a positive hydrogen ion (proton)

Strength of acid depends on how easily the

hydrogen ion is released
Anytime a compound starts with H, the
compound is typically an acid
Water (H2O) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are
noteworthy exceptions

Hydro-

Root of
-ic acid
Non-metal

Rule 6: Binary Acids

Ex 1: What is the name of HCl?

Since the compound starts with H, it is

probably an acid.
Use the prefix hydro-, the suffix -ic, and the
word acid

hydrochloric acid

Comprehension Check
What is the name of HAt?

hydroastatic acid

What is the name of HBr?

hydrobromic acid

What is the formula for hydroiodic acid?

HI

What is the formula for hydrofluoric acid?

HF

Rule 7: Polyatomic Acids

Identifying Polyatomic Acids

Formula will start with H

Has three or more elements

Naming depends on the ending of the

Polyatomic ion

Ions ending in -ate or -ide

Root of
-ic acid
Polyatomic Ion

Ions ending in -ite

Root of
Polyatomic Ion

) -ous

acid

Rule 7: Polyatomic Acids

Ex 1: What is the name of H3PO4?

First, notice that since the compound starts

with H, we are dealing with an acid
Also, there are more than two elements; we should
think polyatomic ion

Next, look up the name of the polyatomic ion

Since phosphate ends in -ate, change the
suffix to -ic and add the word acid.

phosphoric acid

Rule 7: Polyatomic Acids

Ex 2: What is the name of H3PO3?

First, notice that since the compound starts

with H, we are dealing with an acid
Also, there are more than two elements; we should
think polyatomic ion

Next, look up the name of the polyatomic ion

Since phosphite ends in -ite, change the suffix
to -ous and add the word acid.

phosphorous acid

Rule 7: Polyatomic Acids

Ex 3: What is the formula for aluminic acid?

Since there is no hydro prefix, we know that this

must be a polyatomic acid.
Next, the -ic ending means that the ion must
really end in -ate
We must be looking of the aluminate ion

Because this is an acid, hydrogen will be

involved
Write the symbols and oxidation numbers, switch
the oxidation numbers, and reduce.

H AlO3
1

3
-3

Comprehension Check
What is the formula for manganic acid?

H2MnO4

What is the formula for sulfurous acid?

H2SO3

What is the name of HNO2?

nitrous acid

What is the name of HNO3?

nitric acid