1/12/2016
Nomenclature – simple anions
If the anion is just a non-metal atom with a negative charge:
1. Chop off the end of the name of the atom and add –ide; e.g.
chlorine  chloride
oxygen  oxide
iodine  iodide
2. Precede this with the name of the metal cation; e.g.
sodium chloride
magnesium oxide
copper iodide
lithium fluoride
Chem 150 - Q2, 2016
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Nomenclature - oxyanions
Many anions contain oxygen as well as another non-metal atom
perborate
-
BO3
carbonate
2-
CO3
4-
Si O4
silicate
Chem 150 - Q2, 2016
nitrate
-
N O3
3-
P O4
phosphate
F
O
2-
-
S O4
Cl O4
sulfate
perchlorate
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1/12/2016
Nomenclature – writing formulae
Three rules:
1. Charges must cancel
2. Number of units of each ion is shown as a subscript
3. If more than a single ion is needed, enclose the group in brackets
Examples:
Sodium chloride
Magnesium chloride
Potassium nitrate
Magnesium sulfate
Magnesium nitrate
Lithium sulfate
Copper (I) sulfate
Iron (III) sulfate
Ammonium carbonate
Ammonium phosphate
Chem 150 - Q2, 2016
[Note: sulfate ≡ sulphate]
Na Cl
Mg Cl2
K NO3
Mg SO4
Mg (NO3)2
Li2 SO4
Cu2 SO4
Fe2 (SO4)3
(NH4)2 CO3
(NH4)3 PO4
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