ENGLISH NOMENCLATURE
of Simple Inorganic Molecules
Formula
Ionic
Covalent
Bonding of
molecule
Organic
Nomenclature
Inorganic
Is it an acid?
State amount of
each element and
add -ide to anion
Yes
CO2
No, it is a salt
Does it include
oxygen?
No
P2O5
CO2
carbon
dioxide
diphosphorus
pentoxide
is it in solution?
Yes
add hydro& -ic to name
of anion
What is the nature of
the oxidation number
on the element that
forms the anion with
oxygen?
There are two
possible
oxidation
numbers
There are more
than two possible
oxidation
numbers
Yes No
follow covalent
nomenclature
HCl(aq)
HBr
hydrochloric
acid
hydrogenbromide
Only one is
possible
State name of
other element
and add -ic
H2CO3
If the ox. number is
the lower of the
two, add -ous, if
the higher, add -ic
Exception:
Manganese (G7)
has two ox. no.s but
follows rules for more
than two ox. no.s
HMnO4
carbonic acid
HNO2
HNO3
nitrous acid
nitric acid
HMnO3
manganic acid
permanganic acid
Order the oxidation
numbers from high to low
Special cases
ClO (+I)
ClO2 (+III)
ClO3 (+V)
ClO4 (+VII)
Common
specialities in
acids:
hypo- -ous
-ous
-ic
per- -ic
less than lower -> hypolower of the middle two -> -ous
higher of the middle two -> -ic
more than higher -> per- -ic
HClO4
perchloric acid
HIO
hypoiodic acid
O was
swapped
for S
Care!First check if
the acid isn't a dimer
add
[number of S]thiodimer (anion
twice)
Add di- to name
H2S2O3
thiosulfuric acid
H2S2O7
disulfuric acid
Split cation
and anion
of salt and deal
with them
separately
Important: Write
cation first, anion
second
Cation
Is the cation
simple/complex?
Polyatomic
Complex
Complex ion
Nomenclature
Simple
What is the nature of the
oxidation number of the cation?
Memorise these
particular cations'
names :(
Only one is
possible
+
(NH4) = ammonium
+
(H3O) = hydronium
Anion
There are more
possible
oxidation
numbers
State the name of
the atom and its
oxidation number
in brackets
State the
name of the
atom
Zn2+
zinc
Ni2+
Exception (no longer in use)
add -ic for higher ox. no. and
-ous for lower ox. no.
2+
Cupric = Cu
+
Cuprous = Cu
3+
Ferric = Fe
2+
Ferrous = Fe
Ni4+
Al3+
aluminium
nickel(II)
nickel(IV)
Yes
Is the anion
monoatomic?
add -ide
Fe2O3
iron(III) oxide
ZnCl2
zinc chloride
CaH2
calcium hydride
No, complex
Complex ion
Nomenclature
No, polyatomic
Does the
anion come
from an
oxoacid?
Does
it come from
an organic
acid?
No
Yes
-
CN = cyanide
2(O2) = peroxide
(O2) = superoxide/hyperoxide
OH = hydroxide
2(C2) = carbide
Yes
Organic
Nomenclature
Get the name of
the acid and
transform the suffix:
-ic -> -ate
-ous -> -ite
Common organic
anions we'll be
dealing with:
Does the acid
anion have any
extra hydrogen which
could have been
dissociated?
(CH3COO)
add
hydrogenprefix
Yes
No longer used:
add bi- prefix
CuSO4
KNO2
Potassium
Nitrite
-
or (C2H3O2)
= acetate
2(OOCCOO) or (C2O4)
= oxalate
-
2-
Sodium
hydrogencarbonate
NaHCO3
No
Write the name!
Memorise the
particular anions'
names :(
No
Copper(II)
Sulphate
Sodium
bicarbonate