Naming Covalent Compounds

Remember Covalent Compounds Composed of two or more nonmetals. Usually gases or liquids at room temperature.

Rule 1 The element with the lowest group number is written first. The element with the higher group number is written second. Exception: when the compound contains oxygen and a halogen, the name of the halogen is the first word in the name.

Rule 2 If both elements are in the same group, the element with the higher period number is written first.

Rule 3 The second element in the name is named as if it was an anion, by adding the suffix -ide to the name of the element.

Rule 4 Greek prefixes are used to indicate the number of atoms of each nonmetal element present. The prefix mono is only used for oxygen

Greek Prefixes You use most of these regularly. For example: What do you call a train that runs on one rail?

MONORAIL

What do you call the non-motorized object that has pedals and 2 wheels?

Bicycle

On your paper come up with a good example for the prefix we use daily for 3?

Greek Prefixes Here is an example of how we use the prefixes with the elements to name compounds.

ACIDS Acids are a special group of compounds. When naming acids and writing their formulas, you can consider them to be combinations of anions connected to as many hydrogen ions (H+) as are needed to make the molecule electrically neutral. Many industrial processes, including steel and fertilizer manufacturing, use acids.

Common Acids Name Formula Hydrochloric acid HCl Sulfuric Acid H2SO4 Nitric acid HNO3 Acetic acid HC2H3O2 Hydrobromic acid HBr Phosphoric acid H3PO4 Carbonic acid H2CO3

Practice Example #1: N2O4 :_________________ Example #2: SF6 :___________________ Example #3: diphosphorus pentoxide:______ Example #4: nitrogen pentachloride :_______