Inorganic Nomenclature Handout

Inorganic Nomenclature
I.
Compound Type
Fixed Charge Metal Binary Salts
Description
Fixed Charge Metal* + a Nonmetal
Rule:
Full name of the metal + Stem on the nonmetal + the suffix “ide”

Formula
Name
NaCl
Sodium chloride
CsF
Cesium fluoride
CaBr2
Calcium bromide
MgO
Magnesium oxide
Li2S
Lithium sulfide
Al2O3
Aluminum oxide
ZnH2
Zinc hydride
AgI
Silver iodide
SrS
Strontium sulfide
Ca3N2
Calcium nitride
K2Te
Potassium telluride
Na3N
Sodium nitride
CaC2
Calcium carbide
LiH
Lithium hydride
Mg3P2
Magnesium phosphide

Memorize your fixed charge metals!!!!
Group 1A, 2A,3A and Al+3,Zn+2, Cd+2 and Ag+1

II.
Inorganic Nomenclature

Compound Type
Variable Charge Metal Binary Salts
Description
Variable Charge Metal + a Nonmetal

Examples
FeCl2 and FeCl3
Stock System Rule:
Full Name + a Roman Numeral + The Stem of + “ide” of the metal for the Charge the nonmetal

Formula
Charge
Name
CrS
2
Chromium(II) Sulfide
Fe2O3
3
Iron(III) oxide
CrI3
3
Chromium(III) iodide
CuCl
1
Copper(I) chloride
PbO
2
Lead(II) oxide
Hg2Cl2
1
Mercury(I) chloride
FeS
2
Iron(II) sulfide
As2O5
5
Arsenic(V) oxide
CuBr2
2

CoI3
3

SnCl2
2

PbO2
2

As2S3
3

SnF4
4

CoO
2

HgO
2

Cu2O
1

HgS
2

III.
Inorganic Nomenclature

Compound Type
Variable Charge Metal Binary Salts
Description
Variable Charge Metal + a Nonmetal
Examples
FeCl2 and FeCl3
Suffix System Rule
Latin or Greek Prefix + ic or ous + The Stem of + “ide”
For the Metal ic-higher ous-lower the nonmetal

Formula
Charge
Name
CrS
2

Fe2O3
3

CrI3
3

CuCl
1

PbO
2

Hg2Cl2
1

FeS
2

As2O5

CuBr2

CoI3

SnCl2

PbO2

As2S3

SnF4

CoO

HgO

Cu2O

HgS

Rule of Thumb - +2 is the lower charge state for most metals Exceptions: +1 is the lower state for Cu
+1 is the lower state for Hg
+3 is the lower state for As

IV.
Inorganic Nomenclature

Compound Type
Fixed Charge Metal Ternary Salts
Description
Fixed Charge Metal + a Polyatomic ion
Examples
CaSO4, BaCO3, and KClO3
Rule
Full Name of the Metal + Name of the Polyatomic ion

Formula
Name
Na2SO4

KNO3

Li2CO3

Cd(OH)2

Ca3(PO4)2

K2Cr2O7

Ag2CrO4

KC2H3O2

NaMnO4

Li2SO3

Ba(NO2)2

AgClO4

(NH4)2S

LiClO

Na2S2O3

Na2SiO3

Memorize your fixed charge metals!!!!
Group 1A, 2A, 3A,andAl+3,Zn+2, Cd+2 and Ag+1

V.
Inorganic Nomenclature

Compound Type
Variable Charge Metal Ternary Salts
Description
Variable Charge Metal + a Polyatomic ion
Examples
FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3
Stock System Rule
Full of the Metal + a Roman Numeral + Name of Polyatomic For the Charge Ion

Formula
Charge
Name
FeSO4
+2

As(NO2)3
+3

CuCN
1

Hg(NO3)2
2

CuCO3
2

CoSO4
2

Fe(OH)3
3

Cr(CN)2
2

Sn(NO2)4

Co2(CO3)3

Pb(CH3COO)4

As2(SO3)3

FePO4

Sn(NO3)2

CuClO4

VI.
Inorganic Nomenclature

Compound Type
Variable Charge Metal Ternary Salts
Description
Variable Charge Metal + a Polyatomic ion
Examples
FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3
Suffix System Rule
Latin or Greek Prefix + ic or ous + Name of Polyatomic For the Metal ic-higher ous-lower ion

Formula
Charge
Name
FeSO4
+2
Ferrous Sulfate
As(NO2)3
3

CuCN
1

Hg(NO3)2
2

CuCO3
2

CoSO4
2

Fe(OH)3
3

Cr(CN)2
2

Sn(NO2)4

Co2(CO3)3

Pb(CH3COO)4

As2(SO3)3

FePO4

Sn(NO3)2

CuClO4

Rule of Thumb - +2 is the lower charge state for most metals Exceptions: +1 is the lower state for Cu
+1 is the lower state for Hg
+3 is the lower state for As