Do Ionic Compounds Use Prefixes

Why Do We Name Compounds?

Naming a chemical compound gives us an easier way to discuss it in conversation. Just imagine having to say "aitch-gee-also-bee-ar-also dissolved in aitch-besides-oh" and the like multiple times per conversation - information technology's much more natural to say "mercury bromide dissolved in water"! Naming a compound properly gives united states of america this ability to talk almost a chemical compound naturally without losing any data nigh the compound.

Naming Covalent (Molecular) Compounds

Recall that covalent compounds are those that involve more 1 atom bonded together by the sharing of electrons. You'll know for certain that you are dealing with a molecular compound if only nonmetals are present.
To name a covalent compound, y'all need the molecular formula, cognition of the prefixes used for naming, and a way to look up the proper noun of an element given its atomic symbol. With this information in paw, yous tin can follow the naming scheme for covalent compounds:

Steps to Naming Covalent Compounds

Beginning, identify the elements present.
Second, look at the subscript of each element to decide which prefix to use. (If an element does not have a prefix, presume that the subscript is "1."
Third, utilise the above naming scheme. (Note: If the prefix of the first element would be "mono-", information technology is not needed.)

TIP!: Get used to what part of an element's name is the "root" early, because information technology'southward not always piece of cake to tell by looking!

Naming Ionic Compounds

Recall that ionic compounds consist of a positively charged cation and a negatively charged anion.
Ions (of either variety) may contain either a single element or more than one element. (When an ion consists of more than ane element, we refer to information technology as a "polyatomic ion.")
To recognize an ionic compound, expect for the presence of a metal or a known polyatomic ion - in one case yous find one, you more than than likely have an ionic compound.
When we name an ionic compound, we exercise not apply prefixes; instead, apply one following naming schemes:

Test Your Cognition!

For each question, choose the best answer. The respond primal is below.

Name the compound CO.
- Monocarbon Monoxide
- Carbon Monoxide
- Carbon Dioxide
Name the chemical compound NaCN.
- Sodium Cyanide
- Sodium Carbon Nitride
- Sodium Monocarbon Mononitride

Answer Key

Carbon Monoxide
Sodium Cyanide

Duff on September 19, 2019:

@MAbala when the element has ii letters for its symbol the second is lower case (bromine is Br) merely CN is the combination of carbon and nitrogen meeting to grade the polyatomic ion cyanide which is why both the C and the North are capitalized

MAbala on September 09, 2019:

Ringlet to Continue

Read More From Owlcation

Is there a dominion which mandates the second letter in an abbreviation of any element in the periodic table to be lower-cased. Because in the quiz in a higher place, cyanide was written 'CN'

For Ex. Br for bromine with an uppercase 'B' and a lowercase 'r'.

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Choder on October 03, 2017:

Thanks bon

Bob on Feb xvi, 2017:

Maybe explain why each type of bond has a fix of dissimilar naming rules

phriot (writer) on Jan 05, 2017:

Hi Jared. It'south been a while since I've looked at my Hubs, then I didn't realize that I missed a rule here. Typically, if in that location is merely i atom of the first chemical element in a covalent compound, we omit the "mono-/mon-."

Jared on December xiv, 2016:

Hey phriot, I was just doing the quiz and ran into something that didn't make sense if we follow the rules you laid out. The rule said that for molecular compounds that only contained non-metals we use (# prefix) start compound + (# prefix) second compound, but in the quiz information technology wants carbon monoxide instead of monocarbon monoxide, and I'1000 just dislocated when the leading element gets the prefix, when information technology doesn't, and what rules there were surrounding that?

Harry on Nov 08, 2016:

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rylie on Oct 04, 2016:

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phriot (author) on March 12, 2013:

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key on March 12, 2013:

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phriot (writer) on Feb 26, 2013:

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phriot (writer) on October 09, 2012:

I notice that I'1000 getting a lot more views on this hub lately. To those that are new readers, what could I do to make this hub better for you? Would you similar a quiz to cheque your knowledge? More than worked-out examples? Add some color to spice things up? Let me know!