Nomenclature Report
Background Information
Ionic Compound Nomenclature
An ionic compound is described as an electrostatic attractive force between oppositely charged
ions.
Monoatomic Cations
Metal cations are formed when metals lose electrons to form positively charged ions.
Cations can have a fixed charge or a variable charge. Fixed charge cations have only one
charge possible. Variable charged cations can have more than one possible charge based
on it’s oxidation state.
Naming fixed charge metal cations: name the metal + the word ion.
e.g.: Mg2+ is magnesium ion
Naming variable charged metal cations: name the metal + add a Roman numeral
to indicate the positive charge of the metal cation + the word ion.
e.g.: Cu2+ is copper(II) ion (the (II) is used because of the 2+ charge)
Monoatomic Anions
Nonmetal anions are formed when nonmetals gain electrons to form negatively charged
ions. Anions have a fixed charge.
Naming anions: name the nonmetal + change ending to –ide.
Polyatomic Ions
Polyatomic ions are ions that have two or more atoms bonded covalently, but the cluster
acts as an ion because it has an overall charge. These ions can combine with other ions to
form ionic compounds.
Table of Some Polyatomic Ions:
Formula
Name
Formula
+
NH4
ammonium
ClO4CNcyanide
ClO3OH
hydroxide
ClO2MnO4permanganate ClONO3
nitrate
BrO4NO2nitrite
BrO32CrO4
chromate
BrO2Cr2O72dichromate
BrO-
Name
perchlorate
chlorate
chlorite
hypochlorite
perbromate
bromate
bromite
hypobromite
Formula
SO42SO32PO43PO33CO32HCO3HSO4HPO42-
Name
sulfate
sulfite
phosphate
phosphite
carbonate
hydrogen carbonate
hydrogen sulfate
hydrogen phosphate
Naming ionic compounds: Name the cation first and then name the anion.
Examples:
1. Al2O3 is aluminum oxide
2. Cu2S is copper(I) sulfide
3. AgCN is silver cyanide
4. Fe2(SO4)3 is iron(III) sulfate
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
page 1 of 7
Hydrates
Hydrates are ionic compounds that incorporate water molecules into their crystalline structure as
they become ionic compounds. Hydrates are recognized by a “dot” symbol followed by a Greek
prefix and H2O (e.g. CuSO4∙5H2O).
Naming hydrates: name ionic compound + Greek prefix for number of water
molecules + the word “hydrate”
e.g.: CuSO4∙5H2O is copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate
Greek Prefix System:
Number Greek Prefix
1
mono2
di3
tri4
tetra5
penta-
Number
6
7
8
9
10
Greek Prefix
hexaheptaoctanonadeca-
Covalent Molecule Nomenclature
A covalent molecule is when two or more nonmetals share valence electrons creating a covalent
bond.
1. Name the first atom. Add a Greek prefix to designate number of atoms if more than
one. Don’t use mono- for the first atom.
2. Name the second atom. Add a Greek prefix to designate number of atoms even if
only one.
3. Give the second atom an “-ide” ending.
4. If there is a double vowel, often (but not always) one vowel is dropped.
e.g.: N2O4 is dinitrogen tetraoxide becomes dinitrogen tetroxide
Acid Nomenclature
Acids are compound that donate a proton (H+) in water.
Look at the anion name! Acids all take their names from the name of their anions:
Anions ending in “-ide” become “hydro-(anion name fragment)-ic acid”.
e.g.: HBr(aq) is hydrobromic acid.
Anions ending in “-ite” become “(anion name fragment)-ous acid”.
e.g.: HClO2 (aq) is chlorous acid.
Anions ending in “-ate” become “(anion name fragment)-ic acid”.
e.g.: HNO3 (aq) is nitric acid.
When writing the correct formula for an acid, be sure to include the physical state (aq). This
indicates the substance is dissolved in water so the proton, H+, can be released.
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
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Procedure:
PART I. ROLL THE NOMENCLATURE DICE
1. Start at your group table.
2. Obtain a cation die and an anion die. Roll them both.
3. Match the cation with the anion and write the correct formula for the compound the
dice is collectively representing.
4. Name this compound.
5. Record this information on your data sheet.
6. Pass the dice set to your left (clockwise rotation) and repeat.
7. Once everyone one both sides of your bench has gone one round, your entire group
must move to the next bench (clockwise rotation).
8. Repeat until your group is back at the starting bench.
PART II. AROUND THE WORLD
1. Start back at your group table.
2. Obtain a set of blue cardstock cards.
3. Follow the instructions given by your professor for this game.
Turn in only ONE Nomenclature Report sheet per lab bench to your instructor before leaving.
Everyone must do their own post-lab discussion questions.
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
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Name: _______________________
Date: _______________________
Section: ______________________
Pre-Lab Questions – 5 Points
1. Predict the ion charge for the following:
a. Ba
______
b. Ga
______
c. copper(II)
______
d. lead(IV)
______
e. Zn
______
f. S
______
g. As
______
h. Br
______
2. Write the formula for the following:
a. iodite
_________________
b. sulfite
_________________
c. dihydrogen phosphate
_________________
d. carbonate
_________________
e. periodate
_________________
f. cyanide
_________________
g. dichromate
_________________
h. hydrogen sulfite
_________________
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
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Name: _______________________
Date: _______________________
Section: ______________________
Nomenclature Report Data Sheet
PART I. ROLL THE NOMENCLATURE DICE
Lab Bench 1:
Lab Partner Name
Cation
Anion
Formula
Name of Ionic Compound
e.g.: Betty Jo Beaker
Na+
Cl-
NaCl
sodium chloride
Lab Bench 2:
Lab Partner Name
Cation
Anion
Formula
Name of Ionic Compound
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
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Lab Bench 3:
Lab Partner Name
Cation
Anion
Formula
Name of Ionic Compound
Lab Bench 4:
Lab Partner Name
Cation
Anion
Formula
Name of Ionic Compound
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
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Name: _______________________
Date: _______________________
Section: ______________________
Nomenclature Report Post-Lab Discussion Questions
1. (18 pts) Write the correct formula for the following compounds:
a. iron(II) acetate tetrahydrate
_________________________
b. periodic acid
_________________________
c. tin(IV) chloride pentahydrate
_________________________
d. trisulfur pentabromide
_________________________
e. tetraphosphorus hexoxide
_________________________
f. iridium(III) bromide tetrahydrate
_________________________
g. trinitrogen heptachloride
_________________________
h. zinc nitrate hexahydrate
_________________________
i. chromic acid
_________________________
2. (18 pts) Write the correct name for the following compounds: Spelling Counts!!
a. Na2CO3∙10H2O
__________________________________________
b. H2CO3(aq)
__________________________________________
c. N2S5
__________________________________________
d. IF7
__________________________________________
e. Ba(OH)2∙8H2O
__________________________________________
f. MnSO4∙H2O
__________________________________________
g. HC2H3O2(aq)
__________________________________________
h. H3PO3(aq)
__________________________________________
i. UF6
__________________________________________
GCC CHM 151LL: Nomenclature Report
© GCC, 2017
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