with examples #chemistrychemicalsnomenclatureguide


Vocabulary

  • Ionic Compound: A compound composed of ions held together by ionic bonding.
  • Covalent Compound: A compound formed by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
  • Cation: A positively charged ion, typically a metal.
  • Anion: A negatively charged ion, typically a non-metal.
  • Oxyacid: An acid containing oxygen, hydrogen, and another element.
  • Alkane: A hydrocarbon with single carbon-carbon bonds.
  • Alkene: A hydrocarbon with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.
  • Alkyne: A hydrocarbon with a carbon-carbon triple bond.
  • Functional Group: A group of atoms causing characteristic reactions in a compound.
  • Isomer: Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.
  • Stereochemistry: The study of the 3D arrangement of atoms in molecules.

Chemical Nomenclature Conventions

1. Ionic Compounds

  • Naming: Metal first, then non-metal with ‘-ide’ ending.
  • Example: NaCl (Sodium Chloride), MgO (Magnesium Oxide)
  • Transition Metals: Roman numerals for charge.
  • Example: FeCl₂ (Iron(II) Chloride), CuO (Copper(II) Oxide)

2. Covalent Compounds

  • Prefixes:
    • Mono- (1 atom)
    • Di- (2 atoms)
    • Tri- (3 atoms)
    • Tetra- (4 atoms)
    • Penta- (5 atoms)
    • Hexa- (6 atoms)
    • Hepta- (7 atoms)
    • Octa- (8 atoms)
    • Nona- (9 atoms)
  • Example: CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide), N₂O₄ (Dinitrogen Tetroxide)

3. Acids and Bases

  • Binary Acids: ‘Hydro-’ prefix and ‘-ic’ suffix with ‘acid’.
  • Example: HCl (Hydrochloric Acid), HBr (Hydrobromic Acid)
  • Oxyacids:
    • ’-ic’ for ‘-ate’ ions.
    • ’-ous’ for ‘-ite’ ions.
  • Example: H₂SO₄ (Sulfuric Acid), HNO₂ (Nitrous Acid)

4. Organic Compounds

  • Alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons (-ane).
  • Example: CH₄ (Methane), C₂H₆ (Ethane)
  • Alkenes: Hydrocarbons with double bonds (-ene).
  • Example: C₂H₄ (Ethene), C₃H₆ (Propene)
  • Alkynes: Hydrocarbons with triple bonds (-yne).
  • Example: C₂H₂ (Ethyne), C₃H₄ (Propyne)
  • Functional Groups:
  • Example: C₂H₅OH (Ethanol), CH₃COOH (Acetic Acid)

5. Complex Molecules

  • Polyatomic Ions: Named as a single unit.
  • Example: NH₄⁺ (Ammonium), SO₄²⁻ (Sulfate)
  • Coordination Compounds: Include ligands and central atom’s oxidation state.
  • Example: [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ (Hexacyanoferrate(II)), [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺ (Tetraamminecopper(II))

6. Isomers

  • Naming: Reflects structural differences.
  • Example: C₄H₁₀ (Butane and Isobutane), C₆H₁₂O₆ (Glucose and Fructose)

7. Stereochemistry

  • Naming: Based on spatial arrangement.
  • Example: (R)- and (S)- Enantiomers, E- and Z- Isomers for Alkenes