Naming Ionic Compounds

Jamie Z 2024-02-11

Learning Goals

• Determine the names of Ionic Formulas

Naming Ionic Compounds

Naming ionic compounds involves following specific rules to create systematic and standardized names for these compounds.

1. Cation Naming:
   • The name of the cation (positively charged ion) is the same as the name of the element.
   • For transition metals, indicate the charge with Roman numerals in parentheses (except for some common ones with fixed charges).
   • H = Hydrogen
2. Anion Naming:
   • The name of the anion (negatively charged ion) is derived from the name of the element by replacing the ending with "-ide."
   • Bromine = Bromide
3. Transition Metals and Variable Charges:
   • For transition metals, Roman numerals are used in parentheses to denote the charge: iron(II) or iron(III).
4. Polyatomic Ions:
   • When dealing with polyatomic ions, treat them as single units and name them as a whole. Examples include sulfate (SO₄²⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), etc.
5. Combining Polyatomic Ions:
   • When combining polyatomic ions to form ionic compounds, use parentheses when more than one polyatomic ion is needed.

Formulas and Charges for Common Polyatomic Ions