Nomenclature of Inorganic compounds
Bassam Attili, PhD and Fred Jury, PhD
Collin College, Chemistry Department
Introduction:
Nomenclature is naming compounds which are essential for writing formula and balancing
chemical equations. It is the basic language of chemistry and can be defined as the terminology of
chemical compounds. By knowing the names of chemicals and their formulas, you can predict the
properties and reactions of the chemical. Life certainly becomes safer for everyone around, if students
are able to read the formulas on the reagent bottles or laboratory stock solutions correctly. This is
especially important when they have only the names or formulas on their lab sheet.
Before you can really start naming compounds you have to become familiar with the element
names and abbreviations. You also need to memorize the charges associated with each element/ion.
Some metals will have fixed charges (Type I metals) others will have variable charges (Type II
metals). Naming rules differ slightly between these two types of metals.
Two other groups of compounds that don’t always follow clear rules are polyatomic ions and acids.
There is no way to get around the memorization requirement. Some people find that using the periodic
table and other patterns help them remember charges associated with certain ions.
To begin naming you need to answer the following questions:
1. Is it a binary compound? (There are certain rules for binary compounds, you are
memorizing the names of anything more complex)
2. Does the compound contain a metal and a non-metal (or a polyatomic ion) or two
nonmetals?
3. If it does contain a metal, does that metal have a fixed (Type I) or variable (Type II)
charge?
4. Does it contain hydrogen? Is it an acid? There are two types of acids; binary and oxoacids.
And remember that molecules must have balanced charges in the ionic compounds and no charge on
the covalent compounds.
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
Task:
There are different rules for naming ionic, covalent compounds and acids.
You are required to summarize the rules for naming:
1. Ionic compounds Type I and Type II
2. Ionic compounds and polyatomic ions
3. Covalent compounds, and Acids; binary and oxoacids
You can search for these rules in any text book or you can look it up in any of the following suggested
web pages:
educypedia.be/education/chemistryinorganic.htm
nauticus.org/ccstudrresource.html
Chemtutor.com
en.wikipedia.org
mikeblaber.org/oldwine/chm1045/notes/Atoms/Naming/Atoms06.htm
files.chem.vt.edu/chem-ed/index.html
and any other you may find helpful.
In the lab, you will be given a handout that has a list of chemicals to name using the rules you have
summarized. Make sure that you are ready, prepared and well organized before you go to the lab. Lab
instructors will be collecting your answer sheets at the end of the lab.
Good Luck
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
Naming Inorganic compounds; Chart 1
No. Then Go to Chart 2.
Is it binary
compound?
Name as a
binary acid
Yes
Yes
Yes
Does it have
a metal and
a nonmetal?
No
Is it two
non-metals?
Does it have
hydrogen in aq
solution?
No
Yes
Is the metal
Type I or
Type II?
Two metals
an Alloy
Name as binary
covalent
Type II
Type I
Determine the
Charge of the
Cation
Name Cation (Roman
Numeral for metal
Charge) then name
anion
Name cation
and then
anion
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
Naming Inorganic compounds; Chart 2
Does it have a
polyatomic ion?
No. Then Go to Chart 2.
Yes
No
Does it have
Hydrogen in aq
solution?
Does it have a
metal?
Yes
Name as Oxoacid
Yes
Is the metal
Type I or Type II?
Type I
Type II
Determine the
Charge of the
Cation
Name cation and
then Polyatomic
ion
Name Cation (Roman
Numeral for metal
Charge) then
polyatomic ion
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
Nomenclature of Inorganic compounds
Name:_____________________________
Section: ______
1. Write the FORMULAS and the IUPAC name of the compounds produced from the listed
ions:
(Ex. Na+ + Cl-  NaCl Sodium Chloride)
Cl –
Na +
OH -
SO4 2-
NaCl
PO4 3Na3PO4
Sodium phosphate
Sodium chloride
NH4 +
Ca 2+
Zn 2+
Fe 3+
FeCl3
Iron(III) chloride
Al 3+
AlPO4
Aluminum Phosphate
Co 3+
Co2(SO4)3
Fe 2+
H+
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
NO3 -
2. Write the correct formula or name for each of the following ionic compounds:
1. iron (III) sulfate
______________________________________
2. potassium nitrate
______________________________________
3.
______________________________________
lead (II) oxide
4. barium chlorate
______________________________________
5. copper (I) selenide
______________________________________
6. manganese (II) carbonate
______________________________________
7. sodium dichromate
______________________________________
8. tin (II) sulfide
______________________________________
9. aluminum phosphate
______________________________________
10. nickel (III) chloride
______________________________________
11. calcium phosphate
______________________________________
12. calcium perchlorate
______________________________________
13. Ag2Te
______________________________________
14. Fe2(CO3)3
______________________________________
15. CsOH
______________________________________
16. NH4Cl
______________________________________
17. Ba(NO3)2
______________________________________
18. NaCH3COO
_______________________________________
19. KHCO3
_______________________________________
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
3. Write the correct formula or name for each of the following covalent compounds:
1. sulfur dihydride
______________________________
2. carbon tetrachloride
______________________________
3. dinitrogen pentaoxide
______________________________
4. trisulfur dioxide
______________________________
5. diphosphorus hexabromide
______________________________
6. phosphorus nonaiodide
______________________________
7. carbon tetrasulfide
______________________________
8. carbon monoxide
______________________________
9. phosphorus decachloride
______________________________
10. SiO2
______________________________
11. SF4
______________________________
12. BrCl3
______________________________
13. AgCl
______________________________
14. AlBr3
______________________________
15. N2O5
______________________________
16. P4S3
______________________________
17. Ca3P2
______________________________
18. NO
______________________________
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus
4. Provide the name or formula for the following ACIDS;
1. HCl
______________________________________
2. HBr
______________________________________
3. HClO4
______________________________________
4. HNO3
______________________________________
5. H2SO4
______________________________________
6. sulfurous acid
______________________________________
7. nitrous acid
______________________________________
8. hypochlorous acid
______________________________________
9. perchloric acid
______________________________________
Copyright 2013© Bassam Attili, Collin College, Spring Creek Campus