CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE: CHEMICAL NAMES AND FORMULAS NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

IMPORTANT TERMS:
SYMBOL
✓ ATOM- is the smallest particle of an element that retains the chemical nature - is a letter or combination of 2 letters which represents the chemical elements.
of the element. - In 1813, Berzelius introduced the system of using the letter of the name of the
✓ MOLECULE- a structure consisting of two or more atoms that are chemically element as its symbol. When more than one element shared the first letter, a second
bound together and behaves as an independent unit. distinguishing letter was added. The first letter in the symbol is always capitalized
✓ DIATOMIC MOLECULE- a molecule that contains only two identical atoms but never the second letter.
in their gaseous states. (O2, Cl2, N2, H2, Br2, I2, F2) - Most symbols are derived from their English names; others are from their Latin or
✓ TRIATOMIC MOLECULE- a molecule that contains three atoms, of either German names:
the same or different chemical elements. (O3, H2O, CO2, HCN) ELEMENT SYMBOL ELEMENT SYMBOL
✓ ION- a charged particle that forms from an atom when it gains or loses one Carbon C Stibium Sb
or more electrons. Calcium Ca Cuprum Cu
✓ CATION- a positively charged ion. Chlorine Cl Natrium Na
✓ ANION- a negatively charge ion. Aurum Au Kalium K
✓ MONATOMIC ION- an ion consisting of a single atom. Ferrum Fe Stannum Sn
✓ POLYATOMIC or RADICALS- a group of two or more atom that act as a Plumbum Pb Hydrargyrum Hg
unit which have a single electrical charge. Argentum Ag Wolfram W
✓ ELEMENT- the simplest type of pure substance with unique physical and
chemical properties. FORMULA
✓ COMPOUND- a pure substance composed of two or elements that are - is a representation of the kind and number of atoms chemically combined in
chemically bonded in fixed proportions. a compound.
✓ BINARY COMPOUND- a compound composed of two elements.
✓ TERNARY COMPOUND- a compound composed of three or more elements. SUBSCRIPT
✓ OXIDATION NUMBER- is a positive or negative number which represents - is the number slightly below
the apparent shared number of electrons lost or gained by an atom in the and to the right of the
formation of compound. symbol. It represents the
✓ NOMENCLATURE- a system of naming chemical compounds. number of element whose
✓ IUPAC- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. It is a recognized symbol it follows.
world authority in developing standards for the naming of chemical elements
and compounds. COEFFICIENT
- is the number written before
the formula or symbol. It
represents the number of molecules.
NAMING or NOMENCLATURE OF COMPOUNDS B. BINARY COVALENT COMPOUND:

Rules in naming chemical formula. (Prefix) Nonmetal + (Prefix) Nonmetal + suffix –ide

A. BINARY IONIC COMPOUND: Prefixes (mono-1, di-2, tri-3, tetra-4, penta-5, hexa-6, hepta-7, octa-8, nona-9, and
deca-10)
1. binary ionic compound containing a metal forming only one type of
cation: Note: the prefix mono- is never used for the first element.

Metal + Nonmetal + suffix –ide FORMULA NAME FORMULA NAME

FORMULA NAME FORMULA NAME CO CCl4

CO2 N2O
NaCl Li2O
PCl3 N2O4
CaBr2 AlCl3
SO2 NO
Mg3N2 CaC2 P2O5 S2F10

C. TERNARY COMPOUND or OXYANIONS:

2. binary ionic compound containing a metal that can form two or more type Metal + POLYATOMIC ION (-ate/-ous)
of cations:
✓ STOCK OR ROMAN NUMERAL SYSTEM FORMULA NAME FORMULA NAME
KMnO4 SrSO4
Metal (charge) + Nonmetal + suffix –ide Ca3(PO4)2 BaSO3

✓ CLASSICAL SYSTEM Li2CO3 MgC2O4

Latin name of Metal ending with (-ic/-ous) + Nonmetal + D. BINARY ACID:

suffix –ide
Hydro + 2nd element + suffix –ic + Acid (aq)
FORMULA STOCK CLASSICAL
Hydrogen + 2nd Element + suffix -ide (g)
FeCl2
FORMULA AQUEOUS FORM (aq) GAS FORM (g)
FeCl3
HF
CuCl HCl
CuCl2 HBr
SnO HI
H2S
SnO2
E. TERNARY ACID or OXYACIDS: 2. Transfer each number (omitting the sign) as a subscript to the other
symbol.
Name of Polyatomic ion + suffix ic/ous + Acid (aq)
Note:
Hydrogen + polyatomic ion (g) o The subscript 1 is never shown in a formula; it is implied if there is no
subscript.
Note: -ate changes into –ic while –ite changes into –ous o Polyatomic ions with subscripts 2 or more must be enclosed in
FORMULA AQUEOUS FORM (aq) GAS FORM (g) parenthesis. If the subscript is 1, no parenthesis is needed.
3. Whenever possible, reduce the subscripts to simpler set of subscripts.
H2SO4
H2SO3 Name Formula Name Formula
HNO3
Calcium Chloride Barium Hydroxide
HNO2
H2CO3 Magnesium Oxide Stannic Sulfide
HClO
Aluminum Phosphate Potassium Permanganate
HClO2
HClO3
HClO4 B. COMPOUNDS OF NONMETALS:

F. BASES: (Hydroxide group) - The prefix for each nonmetal represents the number of atoms for that element and
is shown as the subscript of the formula.
Metal + Hydroxide
Prefixes (mono-1, di-2, tri-3, tetra-4, penta-5, hexa-6, hepta-7, octa-8, nona-9, and
FORMULA NAME FORMULA NAME deca-10)
NaOH NH4OH
Note:
Ca(OH)2 KOH o There is no need to apply the crisscross method.
Fe(OH)3 Mg(OH)2 o If the prefix is mono, the corresponding subscript 1 is never shown in
Fe(OH)2 Be(OH)2 the formula.

Name Formula Name Formula

CHEMICAL FORMULA WRITING

Rules in writing chemical formula. Dinitrogen tetroxide Carbon tetrachloride

A. COMPOUNDS OF METALS AND NONMETALS OR POLYATOMIC IONS: Carbon monoxide Sulfur trioxide

1. Place the oxidation number over the respective symbol of the element or Oxygen hexafluoride Diphosphorus pentoxide
ion.
Nitrogen trichoride Phosphorus heptabromide