Nomenclature Ionic Compounds

Chem 30A Spring 2016 – Laney College 2/27/2016
Professor Scott Beaver Ionic nomenclature worksheet

Name: ___________________________
Nomenclature for ionic compounds

Nomenclature is a system of naming. This worksheet presents a widely used system of
nomenclature for ionic compounds.
There are two types of metal cations with different naming conventions discussed
separately.
 fixed charge (single charge) cations

 variable charge (multiple charge) cations
Cations with a single, fixed charge

Cations have a positive charge. They are formed from metals, which lie on the left side
of the periodic table. The main group (Groups 1-8) metals form cations with a single,
fixed charge. The charge is the same as the Group (column) number on the periodic
table. The cation name is formed by adding the word “ion” after the element name. For
example, the element sodium (Na) is found in Group 1. It ionizes to form the “sodium
ion” represented as Na+. The charge is +1 because it is in Group 1.
Anions have a negative charge. They are formed from nonmetals, which lie on the right
side of the periodic table. The negative charge is found using the Octet Rule as eight
(8) minus the Group number. Anions always have a single, fixed charge. The anion
name is formed by changing the element name suffix to “-ide” and adding the word “ion”
after the element name. For example, the element chlorine (Cl) is found in Group 7. It
ionizes to form the “chloride ion” represented as Cl-. The charge is -1 because it is in
Group 7, and 8 - 7 = 1.
Ionic compounds are formed by cation-anion pairs in electrically neutral ratios. They
are named using the cation name first, followed by the anion name, excluding the word
“ion.” For example, sodium ion (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl-) form the compound sodium
chloride. Its formula is NaCl, which is electrically neutral because sodium ion is +1 and
chloride ion is -1. As a second example, magnesium chloride has the formula MgCl2.
The subscripts indicate 2 chloride ions (Cl-) per 1 magnesium ion (Mg2+). The subscript
“1” is always implied and never written.
Note: There is never any charge indicated in the name of a compound having a cation
with a single, fixed charge. The single, fixed charge is obvious to a chemist.
Page 1 of 6
Name: ___________________________
Exercise 1. Provide the name for each ion:
Cl- __________________ Li+ __________________

Br- __________________ Na+ __________________
F- __________________ K+ __________________
S2- __________________ Mg2+ __________________
O2- __________________ Ca2+ __________________
N3- __________________ Al3+ __________________
P3- __________________
C4- __________________
Exercise 2. Complete the table of neutral ionic compounds with the formulas and names for
each cation-anion pair.
Cl- I- S2- O2- Br- N3-
Na+
K+
Mg2+
Al3+
Cations with a variable/multiple charges

Some transition metals have multiple possible cation charges. A roman numeral (I, II, III,
IV, V, …) must be used in the cation and ionic compound naming system to distinguish
between the charges. For example, iron (Fe) can form the iron (II) ion and also the iron
(III) ion, denoted Fe2+ and Fe3+, respectively. Iron (II) oxide and iron (III) oxide are
distinct compounds, with electrically neutral formulas FeO and Fe2O3, respectively.
Page 2 of 6
Name: ___________________________
Exercise 3. Provide the formula for each compound.
iron (II) oxide __________________

iron (III) oxide __________________
lead (II) chloride __________________
lead (IV) iodide __________________
cobalt (II) chloride __________________
cobalt (III) chloride __________________
Mixed cation types

The first step in naming an ionic compound is to determine whether or not the cation
can exhibit multiple charges. This requires memorization. Learn the following procedure.
1. The main group (Groups 1-8) elements always have a single charge, determined
by the column on the periodic table.
2. Silver and zinc are the only transition metals with a single charge. Memorize the
ionic charges for Ag+ and Zn2+.
3. All other transition metals have multiple charges. Use a roman numeral to
indicate the cation charge, which can be figured out from the given information.
Exercise 4. Provide the name for each compound.
FeO __________________
NaCl __________________
CuBr2 __________________
ZnO __________________
K3P __________________
CaS __________________
Ag2S __________________
CoI3 __________________
Be3N2 __________________
Page 3 of 6
Name: ___________________________
Polyatomic ions
Polyatomic ions are charged groups of atoms. An example is ammonium ion, NH4+. It
has five atoms (one nitrogen and four hydrogens) that share a charge of +1. The
polyatomic ions remain intact, and parentheses may be required when using subscripts.
For example, ammonium chloride is NH4Cl and ammonium sulfide is (NH4)2S.
Ammonium is the only polyatomic cation. Common anions are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Polyatomic ions

There are many polyatomic anions.
Many occur in families of names.
Start by learning the polyatomic
ions ending with “-ate” such as
chlorate (ClO3-), nitrate (NO3--), sulfate
(SO42-), carbonate (CO32-), and
phosphate (PO43-).
The corresponding “-ite” ion name has
one less oxygen and the same
charge. For example, chlorite ion is
ClO2-. Less commonly used names
are the “per__-ate” and “hypo__-ite”
forms to indicate different numbers of
oxygen.
Key in on the chlorate family in
Table 1 to construct names for
other ions. For example, sulfite (not
in the table) would be SO32-, because
it has the same charge and one less
oxygen than sulfate (SO42- in the
table).
_____________________________
Sometimes “bi-“ indicates H+ has
attached. For example, bicarbonate
(HCO3-) and carbonate (CO32-).
Hydroxide, cyanide, permanganate,
acetate, and chromate/dichromate are
common polyatomics that do not
occur in families.
Page 4 of 6
Name: ___________________________
Exercise 5. Complete the table of neutral ionic compounds with the formulas and names for
each cation-anion pair, similar to Exercise 2.
SO42- NO3- PO43- CO32- SO32- NO2-
Na+
Mg2+
Co3+
NH4+
K+
Cu2+
Al3+
Ba2+
Page 5 of 6
Name: ___________________________
Exercise 6. Provide the formula for each compound.
nickel (III) carbonate __________________

calcium nitrate __________________
copper (II) acetate __________________
potassium phosphate __________________
silver acetate __________________
zinc chromate __________________
tin (II) nitrate __________________
tin (II) nitrite __________________
ammonium bicarbonate __________________
copper (II) sulfite __________________
sodium hydroxide __________________
potassium cyanide __________________
potassium phosphide __________________
Exercise 6. Provide the name for each compound.
CuCN __________________
FeO __________________
ZnO __________________
Al2O3 __________________
AgCl __________________
NH4NO3 __________________
NaNO3 __________________
NaNO2 __________________
Ca(NO2)2 __________________
FeCrO4 __________________
Page 6 of 6

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Chem 30A Spring 2016 – Laney College 2/27/2016

Professor Scott Beaver Ionic nomenclature worksheet

Nomenclature for ionic compounds

 fixed charge (single charge) cations

Cations with a single, fixed charge

Exercise 1. Provide the name for each ion:

Cl- __________________ Li+ __________________

Cl- I- S2- O2- Br- N3-

Cations with a variable/multiple charges

Exercise 3. Provide the formula for each compound.

iron (II) oxide __________________

Mixed cation types

Exercise 4. Provide the name for each compound.

Table 1. Polyatomic ions

SO42- NO3- PO43- CO32- SO32- NO2-

Exercise 6. Provide the formula for each compound.

nickel (III) carbonate __________________

Exercise 6. Provide the name for each compound.

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Cl- Li+