Nonmetal naming compounds

Click Coached Problems for a self-study module on naming compounds of the nonmetals. 

In naming compounds, don t confuse metal and nonmetal type binary compounds. Prefixes are used only with nonmetal types. 

Be able to name binary metal type and nonmetal type compounds, as well as ternary compounds, oxyacids, simple coordination compounds, etc. 

The rules for naming chemical compounds depend on whether the substance is a molecular substance or an ionic substance. Molecular compounds are comprised only of nonmetals. Ionic compounds are almost always comprised of a metal and a nonmetal. If a compound contains one of the polyatomic ions listed in Table 2.1, it is an ionic compound. 

The rules for naming binary compounds are summarized in Fig. 2.22. Notice that prefixes to indicate the number of atoms are used only in Type III binary compounds (those containing two nonmetals). An overall strategy for naming compounds is summarized in Fig. 2.23. 

Name five metals and five nonmetals that are very likely to form ionic compounds. Write formulas for compounds that might result from the combination of these metals and nonmetals. Name these compounds. 

A. Naming Compounds That Contain a Metal and a Nonmetal... 

You are given the formula for a compound. The formula contains the elements and the number of atoms of each element in one molecule of the compound. Because only two different elements are present and both are nonmetals, the compound can be named using the rules for naming binary molecular compounds. 

Binary compounds can be named systematically by following a set of relatively simple rules. For compounds containing both a metal and a nonmetal, the metal is always named first, followed by a name derived from the root name for the nonmetal. For compounds containing a metal that can form more than one cation (Type 11), we use a Roman numeral to specify the cation s charge. In binary compounds containing only nonmetals (Type 111), prefixes are used to specify the numbers of atoms. 

In previous examples, we learned that when a metal and a nonmetal react to form an ionic compound, the metal loses one or more electrons to the nonmetal. In Chapter 6, where we learned to name compounds and write formulas, we saw that Group lA metals always form +1 cations, whereas Group 2A form +2 cations. Group 7A elements form -1 anions and Group 6A elements form -2 anions. 

Naming compounds requires several steps. The flowchart in Figure 5.16 summarizes the different categories of compotmds that we have covered in the chapter and how to identify and name them. The first step is to decide whether the compotmd is ionic, molecular, or an acid. You can recognize ionic compounds by the presence of a metal and a nonmetal, molecular compotmds by two or more nonmetals, and acids by the presence of hydrogen (written first) and one or more nonmetals. 

Introduction to Nomenclature Formulas of Elements Compounds Made from Two Nonmetals Names and Formulas of Ions Formed by One Element... 

What about covalent compounds Covalent compounds are nonicmic, molecular compounds. For the most part, they contain only nonmetal atoms. A huge number of such compounds exist, and the naming schemes for these are much more involved than what we have seen for ionic compounds. The schemes we will study in this chapter are limited to compounds that contain only two nonmetals and compounds that are acids. Compounds, whether ionic or covalent, that contain just two elements are called binary compounds. Compounds, whether ionic or covalent, that contain three elements are called ternary compounds. The naming scheme for binary covalent compounds is discussed in Section 3.7. The naming scheme for acids, both binary and ternary, is discussed in Section 3.8. 

When you name inorganic compounds, you write the name of the metal first and then the nonmetal, adding an -ide ending to the nonmetal (for compounds involving monatomic ions). 

If the two elements in a binary compound are both nonmetals instead of a metal and a nonmetal, the compound is a molecular compoimd. The method of naming these compounds is similar to that just discussed. For example,... 

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