Nomenclature Handout
Use Table 3.1 to understand naming of ions. Especially learn the charges
that go with the various transition metal ions.
1
Latin names that should be committed to memory are shown in the table
below. Remember that –ic and –ous show the higher and lower valences,
respectively.
Element New Name Old Name Possible valences
Fe
Iron
Ferr-
+2,+3
Cu
Copper
Cupr-
+1,+2
Sn
Tin
Stann-
+2,+4
Au
Gold
Aur-
+1,+3
Hg
Mercury
Mercur-
+1,+2
Pb
Lead
Plumb-
+2,+4
Prefixes used in naming binary molecular compounds are:
1 mono
2 di
3 tri
4 tetra
5 penta
6 hexa
7 hepta
8 octa
9 nona
10 deca
Table 3.2 shows some
examples of naming
Binary Molecular
Compounds.
2
Use table 3.3 to learn the polyatomic ions. The ions listed in this table are
the ones you should commit to memory. Table 3.5 is important for learning
the prefixes used for organic molecules.
*Note: Information here is meant to supplement material learned in lecture
and the text.
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Naming Templates
Follow the same templates below after you categorize the type of compound
you have.
Category
Type
Binary
Ionic
Ternary
Molecular
Binary
Aqueous
Acid
Binary
(no O)
Ternary
(yes O)
TM?
First Name
Last Name
No
Cation Name
Anion + -ide
TM
(English)
Cation Name + (Ox. State)
Anion + -ide
TM
(Latin)
Latin Cation
+ -ic (for higher charge)
OR –ous (for lower charge)
Anion + -ide
No
Cation Name
Anion
TM
(English)
Cation name + (Ox. State)
Anion
TM
(Latin)
Latin Cation prefix
+ -ic (for higher charge)
OR –ous (for lower charge)
Anion
No
# + Atom Name
# + Atom Name + -ide
No
Hydro- + Anion + -ic
Acid
No
Anion + -ic (for –ate)
OR –ous (for –ite)
Acid
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