Inorganic Nomenclature (Naming)

Examples - Looking at the formula, how to tell the difference between
an ionic compound, a molecular compound, an acid, and a hydrate

 


Resources

Periodic Table
Cation List
Anion List
Molecular Compound Naming Rules
Ionic Compound Naming Rules
Acid Naming Rules
Hydrate Naming Rules 		 
If you are looking at the FORMULA of the compound...
acid The formula will have hydrogen first.  In this course we will always put the acidic hydrogens at the beginning of the formula.

Examples:  HCl, H2SO4, HMnO4
hydrate The formula will have H2O at the end, usually following a dot and with a number in front of it (not a subscript).

Examples:  MgSO4·6H2O, CuCl2·2H2O

ionic compound The first part of the formula will be a metal element or else NH4,  ammonium.  This is because an ionic compound consists of a cation and an anion, and the cation is always written first.  In this course, all of the cations we will see are either metals or else ammonium. 

Examples:  NaCl, Al(NO3)3, ZnSO4, (NH4)3PO4, FeC2O4, AuBr3
molecular compound The formula will contain no metals.  In this course, all of the molecular compounds we will see contain only nonmetals and metalloids. 

Examples:  CO2, N2O5, AsF5, SO3

 


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last updated 14 December 2008


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