Does the formula begin with
a metal?
Yes
Is the metal in
Group 1 or
Group 2?
Yes
Metal keeps name
Does the anion
contain more than
one element?
Yes
No
No
Yes
Is the metal
Al, Zn, Cd, Ag?
Is the first
element
hydrogen?
It is a binary
covalent compound
(2 non-metals)
Use prefixes mono,
di, tri etc.
It is an acid.
No
No
It is a binary
ionic
compound
Yes
Change
ending to -ide
Yes
Yes
It is a transition
metal compound
Metal keeps its name
Use Roman numerals
Name the
polyatomic ion
Balance all
charges
Is the metal Ti, Cr,
Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu,
Au, Hg, Sn, or Pb?
Does the acid have
an oxygen?
No
Yes
Does the
polyatomic ion end
with ….
-ate
No
Does the anion
contain more
than one
element?
No
Use the prefix hydroWrite the root name of the
element with –ic ending
-ite
-1O
Change ending to -ic
+1O
Add prefix perChange ending to -ic
Balance all charges
Change ending to –ous
-2O
Add prefix hypoChange ending to -ous
Balance all charges