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Naming A Chemical Compound : What Type Of Atoms You Are Using

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Naming a Chemical Compound

To name a compound begin by deciding what type of atoms you are using. You should be able to clasify the pieces of the compound as

Metals with a known charge (Groups 1 and 2, Al+3 , Ag+ , Cd+2 , and Zn+2 )

Metals which can have more than one possible charge (most of the transition metals)

Nonmetals

Polyatomic ions (these always have a known charge)

All of the compounds you encounter will be one of two types:

1. Ionic Compounds (These are made by combining a metal with a nonmetal or a metal with a polyatomic anion, ionic compounds are held together by the interaction of positive and negative charges)

These are made by combining a cation (an atom or polyatomic ion with a positive charge) with an anion (an atom or polyatomic with a negative charge.)

To name an ionic compound name the cation first and then the anion.

The Cation

A. If the cation has a single possible charge then simple list the metal or polyatomic ion.

This includes the metals of Group 1 (+1) and Group 2 ( +2)

Other common metals that have a single possible charge are Ag (+1), Al (+3), Zn (+2), and Cd (+2)

For example MgCl2. Mg is a metal who always forms a +2 cation Cl is a nonmetal, it’s the anion This is magnesium chloride

Another example is NH4Cl NH4+ is a polyatomic cation and is always +1 (ammonium) Cl is a nonmetal, it’s the anion This is ammonium chloride

B. If the cation is a metal who can have different charges write down the

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