Naming acids & bases

Name: Date:

Bases
You will be glad to find out that bases are named with traditional ionic naming
procedures. You name the metal, add a Roman Numeral to indicate the charge of
transition metals, and since all bases include the polyatomic ion hydroxide, add
“hydroxide” to the end. It’s truly that simple!

Acids
Acids on the other hand have their own naming system. To name acids, you must be
versed in how to identify the types of acids.

Binary Acids
Binary acids are made of two components: a hydrogen and a nonmetal element. To
name binary acids uses this formula:
hydro(nonmetal prefix)ic acid
HCl is named hydrochloric acid.

Acids with polyatomic ions: Oxyacids

Acids that contain polyatomic ions are things like HNO3 and are called oxyacids. Here
you have a hydrogen bonded to a nitrate ion. When this happens, you’ll have to look up
the name of the polyatomic ion. If the polyatomic ion’s name ends in -ate, you should
change the acid’s name to end in -ic. So, HNO 3 would be nitric acid. Notice there is no
“hydro-” to start off the name.

If the polyatomic ion’s ending is -ite, the acid’s name will be changed to -ous. For
example, HNO 2 is hydrogen bonded to a nitrite ion. This acid will be named nitrous
acid. You can use this formula:
→
polyatomic ion ending in -ate -ic acid
→
polyatomic ion ending in -ite -ous acid

Q 1-10: For each of the following acids, write B if the substance is a binary acid, O if it is an
oxyacid.
1) HBr 2) H2 S 3) HClO4 4) HCl 5) H3 PO4

6) H2SO4 7) HI 8) H 2CO 3 9) H2SO 3 10) HF

Q 11-20: For each formula, give a name.

11) HNO3

12) HBr

13) H 3 PO4

14) H 2S

15) H2 SO4

16) HClO4

17) HF

18) HI

19) HC2 H3 O2

20) H2CrO4

Q 21-28: For each name, give a formula.

21) hydrophosphoric acid

22) carbonic acid

23) oxalic acid

24) sulfurous acid

25) chloric acid

26) nitrous acid

27) hypochlorous acid

28) chlorous acid

 Naming acids & bases
Name: Date:

Bases
You will be glad to find out that bases are named with traditional ionic naming
procedures. You name the metal, add a Roman Numeral to indicate the charge of
transition metals, and since all bases include the polyatomic ion hydroxide, add
“hydroxide” to the end. It’s truly that simple!

Acids
Acids on the other hand have their own naming system. To name acids, you must be
versed in how to identify the types of acids.

Binary Acids
Binary acids are made of two components: a hydrogen and a nonmetal element. To
name binary acids uses this formula:
hydro(nonmetal prefix)ic acid
HCl is named hydrochloric acid.

Acids with polyatomic ions: Oxyacids

Acids that contain polyatomic ions are things like HNO3 and are called oxyacids. Here
you have a hydrogen bonded to a nitrate ion. When this happens, you’ll have to look up
the name of the polyatomic ion. If the polyatomic ion’s name ends in -ate, you should
change the acid’s name to end in -ic. So, HNO 3 would be nitric acid. Notice there is no
“hydro-” to start off the name.

If the polyatomic ion’s ending is -ite, the acid’s name will be changed to -ous. For
example, HNO 2 is hydrogen bonded to a nitrite ion. This acid will be named nitrous
acid. You can use this formula:
→
polyatomic ion ending in -ate -ic acid
→
polyatomic ion ending in -ite -ous acid

Q 1-10: For each of the following acids, write B if the substance is a binary acid, O if it is an
oxyacid.
1) B HBr 2) B H2 S 3) O HClO4 4) B HCl 5) O H3 PO4

6) O H2SO4 7) B HI 8) O H 2CO 3 9) O H2SO 3 10) B HF

Q 11-20: For each formula, give a name.

11) HNO3 nitric acid

12) HBr hydrobromic acid
13) H 3 PO4 phosphoric acid
14) H 2S hydrosulfuric acid
15) H2 SO4 sulfuric acid
16) HClO4 perchloric acid
17) HF hydrofluoric acid
18) HI hydroiodic acid
19) HC2 H3 O2 acetic acid
20) H2CrO4 chromic acid

Q 21-28: For each name, give a formula.

21) hydrophosphoric acid H3 P

22) carbonic acid H2CO3
23) oxalic acid H2C4O2
24) sulfurous acid H2SO3
25) chloric acid HClO3
26) nitrous acid HNO2
27) hypochlorous acid HClO
28) chlorous acid HClO2
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