Acid Naming Rules

Is it an acid? All acids that we will work with donate hydrogen ions [H+] in water, (or we say they are proton donors.) To do this they have to have a hydrogen as the main cation. Examples HNO3 and HCl

Decide if it is Binary or Ternary Binary are two element compounds like HCl and HBr. Ternary are three element compounds like HNO3 and H2SO4

If it is Binary Find the root such as in HCl the root is “chlor” Use the prefix HYDRO Add the root And change the suffix of the anion from ide to ic. Result: Hydrochloric acid Binary acid formula: Hydro-root-ic acid

If it is Ternary Drop the hydrogen and name the anion. Change suffix “ate” to “ic” and “ite” to “ous” Examples: H2SO4 Hydrogen sulfate becomes Sulfuric acid H2SO3 Hydrogen sulfite becomes Sulfurous acid

Is it that easy? Yes

What is the difference between “ate” and “ite” anions? Anions that end in “ate” are the most commonly found forms of the anion. SO4-2 sulfate NO3-1 nitrate PO4-3 phosphate CO3-2 carbonate

“ite” means one less oxygen that the “ate” form SO3-2 sulfite SO4-2 sulfate NO2-1 nitrite NO3-1 nitrate PO3-3 phosphite PO4-3 phosphate CO2-2 carbonite CO3-2 carbonate

Find the back of your oxidation chart Note all the bold faced anions going down the center of the page. Those are all the “ate” ions or polyatomic ions that are designated the most common form. Find ClO3-1 (chlorate) Find chlorite ClO2-1 (chlorite)

Look up the names of the following ions: Look in the upper right hand side of your oxidation chart ClO-1 hypochlorite ClO4-1 perchlorate

The prefix “hypo” Hypo means….below or under as in hypodermic needle, below the skin, or hypo glycemic-low blood sugar. ClO-1 Hypochlorite- one less oxygen than chlorite

The prefix “hyper” or “per” Hyper means more than or above as in hyperactive, or hyperglycemic- too much blood sugar. Chemists drop the “hy” and just use “per.” ClO4-1 perchlorate

Practice naming acids How would you name HClO3? Chloric acid Chlorous acid How would you name HClO? Hypochlorous acid How would you name HClO4? Perchloric acid

Practice naming sodium salts How would you name NaClO3? Sodium chlorate How would you name NaClO2? Sodium chlorite How would you name NaClO? Sodium hypochlorite How would you name NaClO4? Sodium perchlorate