Name:
Date:
Compound Names and Formulas Activity
Part 1
Instructions: Study the following compound formulas and their corresponding names. Then answer
the questions below.
Formula
NaCl
KI
MgO
K2O
Al2S3
K3N
Name
sodium chloride
potassium iodide
magnesium oxide
potassium oxide
aluminum sulfide
potassium nitride
Formula
NaBr
MgCl2
Na2O
CaF2
AlCl3
LiBr
Name
sodium bromide
magnesium chloride
sodium oxide
calcium fluoride
aluminum chloride
lithium bromide
Questions:
1. What types of elements are in these compounds? Metals or Nonmetals?
2. What type of bonding is occurring in these compounds? Explain how this holds the compound
together.
3. How many different types of elements are in each compound?
4. Is there an order the elements are written in both name and formula? If yes, what is it?
5. Why are there subscripts on some elements? (Hint: think about the type of bonding)
6. Are there suffixes or prefixes used in the names? If so, is there a pattern to the usage?
Created by S Boesdorfer
Based on the examples of formulas/names and the answers to your questions, come up with a set of
rules for naming compounds.
Rules for
Compound Type: Ionic or Covalent (circle one) Number of Elements involved:
(you don’t have to use all of the bulleted spaces)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Based on your rules name these compounds
1. CaCl2
4. Li2S
2. BeO
5. BaI2
3. SrBr2
6. Na3N
Based on you rules write the formulas for these compounds
1. lithium iodide
2. magnesium bromide
3. cesium oxide
4. beryllium nitride
5. calcium sulfide
6. potassium chloride
Created by S Boesdorfer
Compound Names and Formulas Activity
Part 2
Instructions: Study the following compound formulas and their corresponding names. Then answer
the questions below.
Formula
CuCl
Cu2O
FeF2
FeO
VF5
CoCl2
AgCl
ZnCl2
Name
copper (I) chloride
copper (I) oxide
iron (II) fluoride
iron (II) oxide
vandium (V) fluoride
cobalt (II) chloride
silver chloride
zinc chloride
Formula
CuCl2
CuO
FeF3
Fe2O3
CrCl3
CoCl3
Ag2S
ZnS
Name
copper (II) chloride
copper (II) oxide
iron (III) fluoride
iron (III) oxide
chromium (III) chloride
cobalt (III) chloride
silver sulfide
zinc sulfide
Questions:
1. Are there similarities to the compounds in part 1? If so, what are they?
2. Are there differences to the compounds in part 1? If so, what are they?
3. What group of elements are involved in these compounds?
4. Are there any that are different than the others?
Created by S Boesdorfer
Based on the examples of formulas/names and the answers to your questions, update the set of rules for
naming compounds you came up with in part 1.
Rules for Naming Ionic Compounds, 2 Elements
(you don’t have to use all of the bulleted spaces)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Based on your rules name these compounds
1. CoCl3
4. Fe2O3
2. CrF6
5. CrF3
3. AgBr
6. TiCl4
Based on you rules write the formulas for these compounds
1. manganese (IV) oxide
2. nickel (II) chloride
3. zinc chloride
4. lead (IV) sulfide
5. cobalt (III) oxide
6. chromium (III) oxide
Created by S Boesdorfer
Compound Names and Formulas Activity
Part 3
Instructions: Study the following compound formulas and their corresponding names. Then answer
the questions below. MIGHT NEED YOUR PINK SHEET!
Formula
NaOH
Mg(OH)2
Ca(NO3)2
NaNO3
Mg3(PO4)2
Name
sodium hydroxide
magnesium hydroxide
calcium nitrate
sodium nitrate
magnesium phosphate
Formula
NH4Cl
Na2SO4
(NH4)2O
FeCO3
CuNO3
Name
ammonium chloride
sodium sulfate
ammonium oxide
iron (II) carbonate
copper (I) nitrate
Questions:
1. Are there similarities to the compounds in part 1/2? If so, what are they?
2. Are there difference to the compounds in part 1/2? If so, what are they?
3. What do the ( ) mean? Why are they needed?
Based on the examples of formulas/names and the answers to your questions, update the set of rules for
naming compounds you came up with in part 1 / 2.
Rules for Naming Ionic Compounds, More than 2 Elements
(you don’t have to use all of the bulleted spaces)
•
•
•
•
Created by S Boesdorfer
Based on your rules name these compounds
1. NH4NO3
4. K2SO4
2. MgSO4
5. NaHCO3
3. AlPO4
6. LiCN
Based on you rules write the formulas for these compounds
1. ammonium nitrate
2. calcium sulfate
3. lithium phosphate
4. Iron (III) nitrate
5. magnesium carbonate
6. calcium hydroxide
Created by S Boesdorfer
Compound Names and Formulas Activity
Part 4
Instructions: Study the following compound formulas and their corresponding names. Then answer
the questions below.
Formula
CO2
SO2
N2O
P4O10
NBr3
N2O4
Name
carbon dioxide
sulfur dioxide
dinitrogen monoxide
tetraphosphorous decoxide
nitrogen tribromide
dinitrogen tetroxide
Formula
CO
NO
P2O5
CCl4
SiO2
Name
carbon monoxide
nitrogen monoxide
diphosphorous pentoxide
carbon tetrachloride
silicon dioxide
Questions:
1. What type of elements are in these compounds? Metals or Nonmetals?
2. What type of bonding is occurring in these compounds? Explain how this holds the compound
together.
3. How many different types of elements are in each compound?
4. Is there an order the elements are written in both name and formula? If yes, what is it?
5. Are there suffixes or prefixes used in the names? If so, is there a pattern to the usage?
Created by S Boesdorfer
Based on the examples of formulas/names and the answers to your questions, come up with a set of
rules for naming compounds.
Rules for
Compound Type: Ionic or Covalent (circle one) Number of Elements involved:
(you don’t have to use all of the bulleted spaces)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Based on your rules name these compounds
4. NI3
1. OF2
2. PCl3
5. SiBr2
3. SO3
6. BrF5
Based on you rules write the formulas for these compounds
1. disulfur dichloride
2. xenon tetrafluoride
3. phosphorous pentabromide
4. bromine monofluoride
5. dinitrogen tetrafluoride
6. diboron trioxide
Created by S Boesdorfer