Chemical Nomenclature

Do you have the chemical name and want to know the chemical formula ?
Link to FlowChart to Determine Chemical Formula


Or do you have the chemical formula and want to determine the chemical Name ?

Link to Naming Rules

Determine the Chemical Formula

Determine the Chemical Name

 

 

1
1 H
                          CHEMISTRY
2 He
2
3 Li
4
Be
MIRAMARCOLLEGE
05 B
06 C
07 N
08 O
09 F
10 Ne
3
11 Na
12 Mg
 
13 Al
14 Si
15 P
16 S
17 Cl
18 Ar
4
19 K
20 Ca
21 Sc
22 Ti
23 V
24 Cr
25 Mn
26 Fe
27 Co
28 Ni
29
Cu
30
Zn
31 Ga
32 Ge
33 As
34 Se
35 Br
36 Kr
5
37 Rb
38 Sr
39 Y
40 Zr
41 Nb
42 Mo
43 Tc
44 Ru
45 Rh
46 Pd
47
Ag
48
Cd
49 In
50 Sn
51 Sb
52 Te
53 I
54 Xe
6
55 Cs
56 Ba
57 La
72 Hf
73 Ta
74 W
75 Re
76 Os
77 Ir
78 Pt
79
Au
80
Hg
81 Tl
82 Pb
83 Bi
84 Po
85 At
86 Rn
7
87 Fr
88 Ra
89 Ac
104 Rf
105 Db
106 Sg
107 Bh
108 Hs
109 Mt
110 Ds
111 Rg
112
113
114
     

 

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Chem Formula: Determining the Name

Write all the elements as determined by the chemical formula. 
If a poly atomic ion is part of the formula, keep the polyatomic ion intact.

 

Examples covered in this tutorial 
#
Atoms
Type
Chemical Name
Chemical Formula
1
Al - O
I
Aluminum oxide
Al2O3
2
Ca - NO2
I
Calcium nitrite
Ca(NO2)2
3
Sn - S
II
Tin(IV) sulfide
SnS2
4
Co - SO3
II
Cobalt(III)sulfite
Co2(SO3)3
5
H - IO
Acids
hypoiodous acid
HIO
6
H - I
III
hydrochloric acid
HI
7
P - O
III
diphosphorus hexaoxide
P2O6
         


 
SHOW ME THE METAL, (or Ammonium, NH4+)

Does the compound contain a metal ?

 

 
Yes, there is a metal or ammonium in the name of the compound .

The compound is ionic

 

 

  
No, there is no metal in the chemical name. The compound is an acid or
the compound is a covalent compound 		 

 
 


























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Chem Formula: Ionic Compound

Is the metal from Group IA, Group IIA, Aluminum (Al), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Silver (Ag) or Ammonium (NH4+)

 

 

Yes, the name contains one of these metal or is ammonium

 

 

 You have a Type I, ionic compound  

No the name does not contain one of these metals (or ammoniaum)

 

 

 The compound you have is a Type II, ionic compound  

 
 











































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Chem Formula: Type I, the kind of anion

Is the anion elemental or polyatomic ?

 

 

  

The anion is elemental

 

 

 Remeber than an elemental ions has the suffix -ide  

The anion is polyatomic.

 

 

 Make sure you know the name and charge of the polyatomic ion  

 
 







































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Chem Formula: Type I, an elemental anion
You have a type I, ionic compound with an elemental anion
 
To determine the chemical formula from the name, first write the chemical symbol for the cation ion and the anion ___________ ____________
symbol cation symbol anion
Write the charge of the cation and the anion above the symbol  
Apply the principle of electrical neutrality by applying the criss-cross method  
Use the charge of each specie as the subscirpt for the counter ion  
Write the chemical formula, by writingthe element and the number of element in the formula. Remember not to write the charge in the formula.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
Write the symbol for the metal and the nonmetal Example:   Aluminum oxide 
Al
O
Write the charge for the metal and then nonmetal.  Use the periodic table to determine the oxidation state.
Group IIIA 
Al+3
Group VIA 
O-2
Use the criss-cross method (to apply the principle of electrical neutrality) to determine the subscripts
Al2
O3
Writhe the chemical formula with the subscripts written, be sure not to include the charge of the elements in the formula
Al2 O3
Does the chemical formula show the simplest ratio, if not reduce it to the simplest ratio. For this example, this is the lowest ratio, the Empirical formula.
   
   
   
   

 
 

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Chem Formula: Type I, a polyatomic anion
You have a type I, ionic compound with an elemental anion
 
To determine the chemical formula from the name, first write the chemical symbol for the cation ion and the polyatomic anion ___________ ____________
symbol cation symbol anion
Write the charge of the cation and the polyatoic anion above the symbol  
Apply the principle of electrical neutrality by applying the criss-cross method  
Use the charge of the anion as the subscirpt for the anion and the charge of the anion as the subscript for the cation.  
Write the chemical formula, by writing the element and the number of element in the formula. Remember not to write the charge in the formula.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
Write the symbol for the metal and the polyatomic anion Example:  Calcium nitrite 
Ca
NO2
Write the charge for the metal and then the polyatomic anion. The periodic table can be used to determine the oxidation state of the metal only.  You will need to know the oxidation state of the polyatomic ion by memory.
Group IIA Ca+2
NO2-
Use the criss-cross method (to apply the principle of electrical neutrality) to determine the subscripts
Ca1
(NO2)2
Write the chemical formula with the subscripts written.  Place parenthesis around the polyatomic anion if the subscript for the polyatomic ions is two or more.  Bee sure not to include the charge of the elements in the formula.
Ca(NO2)2
Does the chemical formula show the simplest ratio, if not reduce it to the simplest ratio. For this example, this is the lowest ratio, the Empirical formula.

 
 

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Chem Formula: Type II, the kind of anion
Is the anion elemental or polyatomic ?  
The anion is elemental Remeber than an elemental ions has the suffix -ide
The anion is polyatomic. Make sure you know the name and charge of the polyatomic ion


 


 

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Chem Formula: Type II, an elemental anion
Write the symbol for the metal and the nonmetal Example: Tin(IV) Sulfide 
Sn
S
Write the charge for the metal and then nonmetal.  The chemical name tells you the oxidation state of the metal. Use the periodic table to determine the oxidation state of the nonmetal.
Sn+4
Group VIA  S-2
Use the criss-cross method (to apply the principle of electrical neutrality) to determine the subscripts
Sn2
S4
Writhe the chemical formula with the subscripts written, be sure not to include the charge of the elements in the formula
Sn2S4
Does the chemical formula show the simplest ratio, if not reduce it to the simplest ratio.
SnS2

 
 

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Chem Formula: Type II, a polyatomic anion
Write the symbol for the metal and the polyatomic anion Example: Cobalt(III) Sulfite 
Co
SO3
Write the charge for the metal and then the polyatomic anion. The chemical name tells you the oxidation state of the metal.  You will need to know the oxidation state of the polyatomic ion by memory.
Co3+
SO32-
Use the criss-cross method (to apply the principle of electrical neutrality) to determine the subscripts
Co2
(SO3)3
Writhe the chemical formula with the subscripts written.  Place parenthesis around the polyatomic anion if the subscript for the polyatomic ions is two or more.  Be sure not to include the charge of the elements in the formula.
Co2(SO3)3
Does the chemical formula show the simplest ratio, if not reduce it to the simplest ratio.

 
 

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Chem Formula: Molecular Compound, an acid or type III
Is the compound an acid ? Yes it is an acid
No the compound is not an acid. You have a type III, covalent compound

 
 











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Chem Formula: Acids
Is the anion an oxyanion? It is an oxyacid
Is the anion a halogen or a calcogen ? It is a halogenated or calcogenated acid
The compound must be an organic acid. We haven't covered this.

 
 

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Chem Formula: Oxyacids
Write the symbol for the hydrogen and the oxyanion . Example: hypoiodous acid 
H
IO
Write the charge for the hydrogen and then the oxyanion.   You will need to know the oxidation state of the oxyanion ion by memory.
H+
IO-
Use the criss-cross method (to apply the principle of electrical neutrality) to determine the subscripts.
H1
IO1
Write the chemical formula with the subscripts written.  Place parenthesis around the polyatomic anion if the subscript for the polyatomic ions is two or more.  Bee sure not to include the charge of the elements in the formula.
HIO

 
 

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Chem Formula: Haloacid or Calcoacid
Write the symbol for the hydrogen and the halogen or the calcogen (the anion) Example: hydroiodic acid 
H
I
Write the charge for the hydrogen and then the anion.   You will need to know the oxidation state of the anion ion by memory.
H+
I-
Write the chemical formula, The subscript for haloacids are 1:1.
HI

 
 
 










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Chem Formula: Type III, Molecular Compounds
Write the symbol for the elements for the compound from the chemical name. Example: diphosphorus hexaoxide 
P
O
Use the prefix from the name of the compound of each element to determine the number of each element in the compound
di - 2: P
hex - 6: O
Write the chemical fromula, using the prefixes as subscripts in the chemical formula
P2O6

 
 
 














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Naming Guide for Chemical Compounds from Chemical formula

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Chemical Name: Determining the Formula
Write all the elements as determined by the chemical formula.  If a poly atomic ion is part of the formula, keep the polyatomic ion intact.: 
  Examples covered in this tutorial
Cs3N
 3 - Cs1 - N Cesium nitride
Cd(ClO)2
1 - Cd2 - ClO		 Cadmium hypochlorite
Sb2O3
2 - Sb3 - O		 Antimony(III) oxide
Hg2(OH)2
2 - Hg2 - OH		 Mercury(I) hydroxide
H2Se
2 - H1 - Se		 hydroselenic  acid
HOBr4
1 - H1 - BrO4		 perbromic acid
B2Br6
2 - B6 - Br		 diboron hexabromide
Does the compound contain a metal ? Yes, there is a metal, the compound is ionic
The compound contains no metal..  The compound is not ionic.

 
 
 

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Chemical Name:  Ionic Compound
Is the metal Group IA, Group IIA, Al, Zn, Cd, Ag or NH4+ Yes, the compound is type I
The compound does not contain the above mentioned metals The compound is type II

 

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Chemical Name: Type I, the kind of anion.
Is the anion elemental? Yes the anion is elemental.
The anion is polyatomic. The compound contains a polyatomic anion.

 
 

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Chemical Name: Type I, an elemental anion
Write the name of the metal and the nonmetal.  Example:   Cs3N 
Cesium
Nitride
Write the write the names together and remember to add the suffix -ide to the nonmetal.
Cesium nitride

 
 

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Chemical Name: Type I, a polyatomic anion
Write the name of the metal and the polyatomic anion Example:  Cd(ClO)2
cadmium
hypochlorite
Write the write the names together and remember that no suffix is added to the anion name.
cesium hypochlorite

 
 
 

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Chemical Name: Type II, the kind of anion
Is the anion elemental Yes the anion is elemental
The anion is polyatomic The compound contains a polyatomic anion

 
 
 

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Chemical Name: Type II, an elemental anion
Write the name of the metal and the elemental anion Example:  Sb2O3 
Antimony
oxygen
Determine the charge of the anion from the anion and applying reverse criss-cross.  Verify the charge of the anion by checking the periodic table.
Sb 3
Group VIA :     O - 2
The charge of the cation is written as a roman numeral in the name.  The anion is name with the   -ide suffix
Antimony(III)
oxide
Write the write the names together and remember to add the suffix -ide to the nonmetal.
Antimony(III) oxide

 
 










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Chemical Name: Type II, a polyatomic anion
Write the name of the metal and the polyatomic anion Example:  Hg2(OH)2
Mercury
hydroxide
Determine the charge of the anion from the anion and applying reverse criss-cross.  (For this example, recall that mercury in a diatomic cation.)  For the polyatomic anion you will need to recall the charge of the ion.
Hg2 2+
OH - 
The charge of the cation is written as a roman numeral in the name.  The polyatomic anion is name as is.
Mercury(I)
hydroxide
Write the write the names together.
Mercury(I) hydroxide

 

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Chemical Name: Molecular Compound, an acid or type III
Is the first element in te formula hydrogen? Yes, if it is not water, then it is an acid
No the compound is not an acid. You have a type III, covalent compound

 
 

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Chemical Name: Acids
Is the acid a binary acid .   Only one other element other than hydrogen in the formula It is a halogenated or calcogenated acid
Is the anion an oxyanion? It is an oxyacid
The compound must be an organic acid We haven't covered this.










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Chemical Name: Haloacid or Calcoacid
Write the name for the hydrogen as hydro and the anion as the element followed by -ic suffix Example: H2Se 
hydro
selenic
Write the chemical name by combining the names and adding  - acid to the end.
hydro selenic acid

 
 

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Chemical Name: Oxyacid
What is the oxyanion name. 
Recall that the oxyanion are best remembered starting with the  - ate oxyanion and deriving the rest through this simple pattern
oxyanion
oxyacid
 per __ ate
per__ ic acid
__ ate
 __ ic acid
__ ite
__ ous acid
hypo __ ite
hypo ___ ous acid
Example: H BrO4
BrO4-     perbromate
Write the chemical name by combining the names and adding  - acid to the end.
 perbromic acid

 
 

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Chemical Name: Molecular Compounds
Write the name of the elements for the compound from the chemical formula.  Recall that the second nonmetal ends with an -ide suffix. Example: B2Br6
Boron
Bromide
Write the prefix of each element to indicate the number of each element in the compound.  The prefix for the first element can be di - 2, tri - 3, tetra - 4, etc..  The prefix for the second element can be mono - 1, di - 2, tri - 3, tetra - 4, etc..  Note the prefix mono cannot be used for the first element.
di - 2 B
hex - 6 Br
Write the chemical name using the prefixes to indicate the number of each of the element in the compound.
diboron hexabromide











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1
1

H

            CHEMISTRY
2

He
2
3

Li
4

Be
MIRAMARCOLLEGE
5

B
6

C
7

N
8

O
9

F
10

Ne
3
11

Na
12

Mg
13

Al
14

Si
15

P
16

S
17

Cl
18

Ar
4
19

K
20

Ca
21

Sc
22

Ti

23

V
24

Cr

25

Mn
26

Fe

27

Co
28

Ni
29

Cu
30

Zn
31

Ga
32

Ge
33

As
34

Se
35

Br
36

Kr
5
37

Rb
38

Sr
39

Y
40

Zr

41

Nb
42

Mo

43

Tc
44

Ru

45

Rh
46

Pd
47

Ag
48

Cd
49

In
50

Sn
51

Sb
52

Te
53

I
54

Xe
6
55

Cs
56

Ba
57

La
72

Hf

73

Ta
74

W

75

Re
76

Os

77

Ir
78

Pt
79

Au
80

Hg
81

Tl
82

Pb
83

Bi
84

Po
85

At
86

Rn
7
87

Fr
88

Ra
89

Ac
104

Rf

105

Ha
106

Sg

107

Ns
108

Hs

109

Mt
110
111
112
  
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This page is maintained by  Fred O. Garces