RULES for Naming

COVALENT COMPOUNDS
 RULES FOR NAMING COVALENT
COMPOUNDS

• If a compound contains only

nonmetals, then you can be
reasonably sure that it is a
covalent compound.
 RULES FOR NAMING COVALENT
COMPOUNDS
• Step 1: Write the name of the first
nonmetal.
• Step 2: Write the name of the second
nonmetal changing its ending to -ide.

• Step 3: Add prefixes to specify how

many of each element are present.
 RULES FOR USING PREFIXES

Prefix Meaning Prefix Meaning

mono one hexa six
di two hepta seven
tri three octa eight
tetra four nona nine
penta five deca ten
 RULES FOR USING PREFIXES

Rule 1: Prefixes are only for BINARY COVALENT

compounds.
Rule 2: The prefix mono- is never used on the first
element of a binary covalent compound. Without
a prefix it is assumed that there is only 1.
Rule 3: Remove the -o or -a from a prefix
before adding it to oxide.
 HOW WOULD YOU WRITE EACH OF THE
PREFIXES IN FRONT OF OXIDE?

Remember: Remove the -o or -a from a prefix

before adding it to oxide. Leave -i alone.
monoxide
mono- ____________ dioxide
di- ____________
tri- ____________
trioxide tetra- ____________
tetroxide
pentoxide
penta- ____________ hexa- ____________
hexoxide
hepta- ____________
heptoxide octoxide
octa- ____________
nona- ____________
nonoxide deca- ____________
decoxide
 COVALENT COMPOUNDS
1. hydrogen monoiodide 11. SF6
2. chlorine dioxide 12. S2Br6
3. iodine pentafluoride 13. SCl4
4. dinitrogen trioxide 14. CH4
5. nitrogen trihydride 15. B2Cl3
6. phosphorus triiodide 16. NF3
7. hydrogen pentabromide 17. H2O
8. diphosphorous pentoxide 18. N2O5
9. nitrogen tribromide 19. P2O5
10. sulfur hexachloride 20. P4O3
 rules
in naming
10
There are only three rules to
remember
Anion Name Acid Name
- ide Hydro- -ic Acid
-ate -ic Acid
-ite -ous Acid