Nomenclature Rules

Binary

Positive name + root of negative name + ide

NaCl – sodium chloride

May use greek prefixes for number (mono, di, tri, tetra, etc.)

K₂S – dipotassium sulfide

Transition Area (multivalence-more than 1 possible charge)

Because many transition materials are multi valent (have more than

one possible charge), there are various equivalent names

possible

May use greek prefixes for number (mono, di, tri, tetra, etc)

Cu₂S – dicopper sulfide

CuS – copper sulfide

May use positive latin root + ic for upper valence ions

CuO – cupric oxide

May use positive latin root + ous for lower valence ions

Cu₂O – cuprous oxide

May use positive name with roman numerals for valence

FeBr₃ – iron (III) bromide

FeBr₂ – iron (II) bromide

Ternary

Normal – positive name + root of negative name + ate

KNO₃ – potassium nitrate

1 less - positive name + root of negative name + ite

KNO₂ – potassium nitrite

2 less - positive name + hypo + root of negative name + ite

KNO – potassium hyponitrite

1 more - positive name + per + root of negative name + ate

KNO₄ – potassium pernitrate

Whats normal?

7 oxygen

dichromate Cr₂O₇^-2

4 oxygen

chromate CrO₄^-2

oxalate C₂O₄^-2

phosphate PO₄^-3

sulfate SO₄^-2

3 oxygen

carbonate CO₃^-2

chlorate ClO₃^-1

nitrate NO₃^-1

manganate MnO₃^-1

2 oxygens

acetate C₂H₃O₂^-1

Acids

Binary

Hydro + root of negative + ic Acid

HCl – Hydrochloric Acid

Ternary (normal # of oxygen)

Root of negative + ic Acid

H₂SO₄ – Sulfuric Acid

H₃PO₃ – Phosphorous Acid

Because the number of oxygen can vary in a ternary compound,

the acid name would also vary. Other possible names are:

Per + Root of negative + ic Acid for 1 more than normal oxygen

H₂SO₅ – Persulfuric Acid

Root of negative +ous Acid for 1 less than normal oxygen

H₂SO₃ – Sulfurous Acid

Hypo + Root of negative + ous acid for 2 less than normal oxygen

H₂SO₂ – Hyposulfurous Acid

Coordinate (Ligand or Complex) Compounds

Possible ligands

F^-, Cl^-, Br^-, I floro, chloro, etc.

NO₂^- nitro

CN^- cyano

SCN^- thiocyano

OH^- hydroxo

CH3COO^- aceto

C₂O₄^-- oxalate

H₂O aquo

NH₃ ammine

CH₃NH₂ methylammine

CO carbonyl

NH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂ ethyldiamine

NH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂ propyldiamine, etc.

NO nitrosyl

General Nomenclature

Give the positive part first and the negative part second

The ligand follows the metallic part in the formula

The name of the ligand precedes the metallic part in the name

use prefix to indicate the number of ligands only, not the part

names

example Pt(NH₃)₄Cl₄ – tetraammine platinium (IV) chloride

Positive complex [denoted with square brackets or no brackets

in front part of compound]

Roman numerals are used to indicate multivalent state of

positive part

If more than 1 ligand is present, then list alphabetical

Example [Co(NH₃)₆Cl]Cl₂ – hexaammineclorocobalt (III) chloride

Negative complex [denoted with square brackets or no brackets

in latter part of compound

If a ligand complex has a net negative charge end with root of

metallic ion with –ate (if latin heritage, use latin root)

Example K₃Fe(CN)₆ - potassium hexacynoferrate (III)

Organic

Use latin prefixes to denote number in parent chain (meth, eth, prop,

but, pent, hex, hept, oct, non, dec)

is butane

Identify and list branches (length and number), alphabetic first,

location and length preceding parent.

is 2 methyl propane

Count from end that gives lowest count

is 3 ethyl, 4 methyl heptane

Suffix indicate parent type

Single bonds – ane

Double bonds –ene (use number to indicate location)

1 butene

Triple bonds – yne (use number to indicate location)

1 butyne

Alcohol –anol (OH)

Methanol

Aldehyde – anal (=O at end)

Ethanal

Ketone – anone (=O in mid, use number to indicate location)

2 pentanone

Ether – shorter branch first, longer branch second ether

Ethyl methyl ether

Organic Acid – anoic acid

Propanoic acid

Ester – anoate branch first, parent second with anoate ending

Methyl butanoate

Branch – yl (use number to indicate location)