Rules for naming inorganic compounds

IONIC COMPOUNDS

Binary – compounds with only two elements

1. Name the cation (usually the metal ion) using the same name as the element

2. If the cation forms more than one ion, use a Roman numeral following the element name to indicate the oxidation state OR use the Latin form of the name to indicate oxidation state

3. Name the anion by using the first syllable of the element followed by the suffix –ide – where more than one syllable of the element name is needed is obvious.

4. Remember, the cation is always named first

Other Ionic compounds – those with multiple elements

1. Name the cation as in binary compounds

2. Name the polyatomic ion

COVALENT COMPOUNDS

1. Name the first element in the compound as the element. If more than one of that element is present, use the appropriate prefix. (mono is never used as a prefix)

2. Name the second element using the appropriate prefix to indicate how many and the –ide suffix at the end of the name. If the element begins with a vowel and the prefix ends with a, drop the a.