1. Covalent Compounds

2. The Language of Chemistry
Chemistry has a language all of its own…
Chemistry
English
Element Symbols
Letters
Chemical Formulas
Words
Chemical Equations
Sentences
Each element symbol starts with a capital letter 2

3. Covalent Compounds
Covalent bond: atoms share electrons so each has a full outer shell of 8 electrons
Binary Covalent Compound: compound made from two non-metals that share electrons
Non
metal
Non
metal
Covalent compound

4. Covalent Prefixes 1 = mono- 2 = di- 3 = tri- 4 = tetra- 5 = penta-
6 = hexa-
7 = hepta-
8 = octa-
9 = nona-
10 = deca-
Two notes:
No “mono” on the first element name
If oxygen/oxide: do NOT include the final “o” or “a” on the prefix

5. Covalent Compounds Formula to Name

6. Covalent Compounds Formula to Name
Formulas will have…
2 non-metal elements
To name:
Name of the first element with the prefix indicating the number of atoms
Name of the second element with the prefix indicating the number of atoms and the suffix “ide”

7. Examples
P2O5
SiO

8. Write the name for the following compounds
Practice
Write the name for the following compounds
1. CO2
2. N2O4
3. P4O10
4. CO
carbon dioxide
dinitrogen tetroxide
tetraphosphorus decoxide
carbon monoxide

9. Covalent Compounds Name to Formula

10. Covalent Compounds Name to Formula
Names will have…
covalent prefixes before the element name
To write:
Write the symbols of the first and second element
Use the covalent prefixes to determine the subscripts of each element (assume the first element is “1” if there is no prefix).
Atoms do not form ions when bonding covalently…you DO NOT need to worry about charges with this type! 

11. Example
Dinitrogen Tetroxide

12. Example 12

13. Write the formula for the following compounds
Practice
Write the formula for the following compounds
1. carbon monoxide
2. nitrogen dioxide
3. sulfur tetrachloride CO
NO2
SCl4

14. A Word of Caution… “di” and “bi” do not mean the same thing! di- bi-
Stands for “2” in covalent compounds
Means there’s a hydrogen in the polyatomic anion
Carbon dioxide = CO2
Sodium biphosphate = Na2HPO4

16. Write the name for the following compounds
Let’s Practice
CO2
N2O4
P4O10 CO
Carbon dioxide
Dinitrogen tetraoxide
Tetraphosphorus decaoxide
Carbon monoxide
Example:
Write the name for the following compounds

17. Nomenclature Summary Naming Chemical Formulas
Starts with a metal or NH4
Does not contain a metal = Binary Covalent compound
2 capital letters = Binary Ionic
More than 2 elements = Polyatomic Ionic

18. Mixed Practice – Ionic and Covalent
Na2O
K3PO4
Cu(OH)2
(NH4)2S
MgCl2
Example:
Write the name for the following compounds

19. Write the name for the following compounds
Mixed Practice
Na2O
K3PO4
Cu(OH)2
(NH4)2S
MgCl2
Sodium oxide
Potassium phosphate
Copper (II) hydroxide
Ammonium sulfide
Magnesium chloride
Example:
Write the name for the following compounds

20. Nomenclature Summary Writing Chemical Formulas
Does not contain covalent prefixes
Does contain covalent prefixes = Binary Covalent compound
Ends with “-ide” (except hydroxide & cyanide) = Binary Ionic
All others = Polyatomic Ionic

21. Write the following chemical formulas
Mixed Practice
Magnesium hydroxide
Copper (II) nitrate
Iron (III) oxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Sodium bicarbonate
Example:
Write the following chemical formulas

22. Write the following chemical formulas
Mixed Practice
Magnesium hydroxide
Copper (II) nitrate
Iron (III) oxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Sodium bicarbonate
Mg(OH)2
Cu(NO3)2
Fe2O3
NO2
NaHCO3
Example:
Write the following chemical formulas