Naming Molecular

Compounds
All are
formed from
CO2 Carbon dioxide two or more
nonmetals.
Ionic
compounds
generally
involve a metal
BCl3
CH4 methane boron trichloride
and nonmetal
(NaCl)
SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-1
 Molecular (Covalent) Nomenclature
for two nonmetals
• Prefix System (binary compounds)

1. Less electronegative atom

comes first.

2. Add prefixes to indicate # of atoms. Omit

mono- prefix on the FIRST element. Mono- is
OPTIONAL on the SECOND element (in this
class, it’s NOT optional!).

3. Change the ending of the

second element to -ide.
SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-2
 Molecular Nomenclature Prefixes

PREFIX NUMBER
mono- 1
di- 2
tri- 3
tetra- 4
penta- 5
hexa- 6
hepta- 7
octa- 8
nona- 9
SCH3UZSyed
deca-
Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-3
10
Molecular Nomenclature: Examples

• CCl4
• carbon tetrachloride

• N 2O
• dinitrogen monoxide
• SF6
• sulfur hexafluoride
SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-4
 More Molecular Examples

• arsenic trichloride
• AsCl3

• dinitrogen pentoxide
• N2O5
• tetraphosphorus decoxide
• P4O10
SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-5
 Learning Check

Fill in the blanks to complete the following

names of covalent compounds.
CO carbon ______oxide
CO2 carbon _______________
PCl3 phosphorus _______chloride
CCl4 carbon ________chloride
N2O _____nitrogen _____oxide

SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-6

 Learning Check

1. P2O5 a) phosphorus oxide

b) phosphorus pentoxide
c) diphosphorus pentoxide

2. Cl2O7 a) dichlorine heptoxide

b) dichlorine oxide
c) chlorine heptoxide

3. Cl2 a) chlorine
b) dichlorine
c) dichloride

SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-7

Class Work/Homework:

• Worksheet:

SCH3UZSyed Gr. 10 Nomenclature 4-8