Naming Ionic Compounds

Nomenclature Rules
What type of compound is it?

IONIC COMPOUND: COVALENT COMPOUND: ACID:

Composed of cations Nonionic – not composed of Produces H+ in water.
(metals or polyatomic cations & anions. Typically the
ions) and anions Generally, only nonmetals hydrogen cation is
(nonmetals or are present. written first in the
polyatomic ions). chemical formula.

TYPE I: TYPE II: TYPE III: ACIDS: OXYACIDS:

Only one More than Covalent, Anion does Anion does
type of one type of nonionic. not contain contain
cation is cation is oxygen. oxygen.
observed. observed.
Chemical reactions occur when atoms
gain, lose, or share electrons.
Metals Nonmetals

gain / accept electrons.

Nonmetals _____________
This gives them a ____ charge.
_
anions
Negative ions are called ___________.
Metals ________________
lose / donate electrons.
+ charge.
This gives them a ____
cations
Positive ions are called ___________.
 Remember that the charge of an ion can be
determined by its place on the Periodic Table.

+1 +4 0
or
+2 +3 -4 -3 -2 -1

Look for the Roman Numeral!

 Rules for Naming Ions

When metals lose electrons they become ions,

but their name does not change.

Na Na +
+ e -

sodium sodium electron

Mg Mg +2
+ 2e -

magnesium magnesium 2 electrons

 Rules for Naming Ions

When nonmetals gain electrons they become

ions, and their name does change.

F + e -
F -

fluorine electron fluoride

S + 2e -
S -2

sulfur 2 electrons sulfide

 Rules for Naming Ions
1. The names of metals do not change.
2. Changing the name of nonmetals:
root of element name + -ide = name of ion

Examples:
The name of chlorine’s ion:
chlor- + -ide = chloride
The name of nitrogen’s ion:
nitr- + -ide = nitride
Examples of naming ions:
The name of calcium’s ion:
calcium
(The names of metals don’t change!)
The name of oxygen’s ion:
ox- + -ide = oxide
The name of aluminum’s ion:
aluminum
(The names of metals don’t change!)
There are also ions that form after elements
have shared electrons. These ions are known
as polyatomic ions, and each polyatomic ion
already has a name.
Steps for Naming Ionic Compounds

CaBr2
calcium bromide

Step 1: Write the name of the metal ion.

Step 2: Write the name of the nonmetal ion.
Step 3: YOU ARE DONE! It is that easy.
 1. NaF 2. MgO
sodium fluoride magnesium oxide

3. SrCl2 4. Li2S
strontium chloride lithium sulfide
 When polyatomic ions are used, simply use
the name of the polyatomic ion in the
compound.

1. NH4F 2. CaSO4
ammonium fluoride calcium sulfate

3. Mg(NO3)2 4. NaOH
magnesium nitrate sodium hydroxide
You can also determine the formula of an ionic
compound from its name. To do this, you will need to
use what you already know about the Periodic Table.

magnesium iodide

Mg +2 I -
MgI2
Step 1: Write the symbol of the metal ion.
Step 2: Write the symbol of the nonmetal ion.
Step 3: Determine the charges using the periodic table.
Step 4: Determine the formula from the ions.
This is just as easy to do with polyatomic ions. You just
need to use the name of the polyatomic ion.

strontium nitrate

Sr +2 NO3-
Sr(NO3)2
Step 1: Write the symbol of the metal ion.
Step 2: Write the formula of the polyatomic ion.
Step 3: Determine the charges using the periodic table
and the table of polyatomic ions.
Step 4: Determine the formula from the ions.
 Remember that the names of transition
metals include their charge because their
charges are less predictable.
What are the charges of the transition
metals below:
+2
Iron (II) _______ +3
Iron (III) _______
+2
Copper (II) _______ +1
Copper (I) _______
+4
Tin (IV) _______ +2
Tin (II) _______
+2
Lead (II) _______ +4
Lead (IV) _______
We know they are positive because
metals are always positive.
The charges of the transition metals are important when
you are determining the formula of an ionic compound.
iron (III) oxide

Fe +3 O -2
Fe2O3
Step 1: Write the symbol of the cation.
Step 2: Write the symbol of the anion.
Step 3: Determine the charges using the periodic table
and the roman numerals.
Step 4: Determine the formula from the ions.
Helpful Hint:
If the ion ends in –ide, it is probably from
the periodic table. If the ion ends in –ate
or –ite, it is a polyatomic ion.
Examples:
sulfate sulfide sulfite

SO 4
-2
S -2
SO 3
-2

nitride nitrite nitrate

N -3
NO 2
-
NO 3
-
Write the formula of each of the ionic
compounds named

KI
SnCl4
BaSO4
NaCl
SrS
CuCO3
AlBr3
Li3N