Formula and Nomenclature of simple Inorganic Compounds

Question 1

Monoatomic ion

Answer 1

an ion consisting of one ion only such as Na+ or Cl-.

Question 2

Cation

Answer 2

Cation: positive ion

Question 3

Anion

Answer 3

Anion: negative ion

Question 4

Univalent metal

Answer 4

A metal with only one stable ionic form;

for example, the only stable ionic form of sodium is Na+. All the metals of groups 1A, 2A and Al3+ , Zn2+ and Ag+ are univalent.

Question 5

Multivalent metal

Answer 5

A metal with more than one stable ionic form.

Many transition metals, as well as Pb and Sn, are multivalent.

Question 6

Polyatomic Ions

Answer 6

A group of atoms covalently bonded together with an overall positive or negative charge, such as NH4+ and NO3 –

Question 7

Binary acid

Answer 7

An acid consisting of hydrogen and another nonmetal

Question 8

Oxyacid

Answer 8

An acid consisting of hydrogen, oxygen and another nonmetal

Question 9

Naming Binary Ionic Compounds

Answer 9

1. cation 2. anion + ide

(if multivalent - use roman numeral
ex. CuCl2: copper(II) chloride)

Question 10

Naming Ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions

Answer 10

1. metallic element 2. polyatomic anion.

And it may consist of a polyatomic cation and a polyatomic anion.
Example: NH4 NO3, ammonium nitrate

Question 11

Binary molecular Compounds (two non-metals)

Answer 11

1. using the full name of the first element
2. second element is named as if it were a monoatomic anion (i.e. it ends with –ide.)

Note:  prefix mono- is never used for the first element
Mono - 1 
di - 2
tri - 3
tetra - 4
penta - 5
hexa - 6
hepta -7
octa - 8
nona - 9
deca - 10

Question 12

Acids

Answer 12

A compound in which one or more H+ ions are bonded to an anion.

If the anion is monoatomic, the acid is a binary acid (it consists of just two elements), but if the anion is an oxyanion (a polyatomic anion containing oxygen), then the acid is an oxyacid.

Question 13

Binary Acids

Answer 13

hydrogen + reactive nonmetal (other than oxygen)

• only when in an aqueous state, they are considered to be acids
• in their gaseous state, even though they are covalent compounds, they are named the same way as the binary ionic compounds.

Question 14

Naming Binary Acids

Answer 14

hydro- + full name of the second nonmetal + –ic

- followed by the word “acid”

Question 15

Oxyacids

Answer 15

The number of H+ ions in the formula is based on the charge of the polyatomic anion. For example, HNO3 has only one H+ ion since NO3- has a charge of 1-, whereas, H3PO4 has three H+ ions since PO43- has a charge of 3-.

Question 16

Naming Oxyacids

Answer 16

ite, the suffix –ous
ate, the suffix –ic
+ “acid”