1. Naming Acids
In this lesson, you will learn how the composition of any acid is related to its name. You will then be able to determine the chemical formula for any acid name given.

2. Naming Acids
To start with, you need to understand that acids come in two basic varieties; binary acids and oxyacids.
Binary acids are made from just two elements, and the first one is always hydrogen.
Oxyacids are made from more than two elements. A polyatomic ion is involved, along with hydrogen.

3. Naming Acids
H2S is a binary acid, as it is made from just hydrogen and sulfur.
H2SO4 is an oxyacid. Why?
HNO3 is what kind of acid?
HCl is what kind of acid?

4. Naming Acids Let’s start with naming the binary acids.
1. The name of a binary acid always starts with “hydro-” , which represents the hydrogen.
2. The name of the other element is used with an –ic suffix.
3. “Acid” goes on the end.
►H2S is hydrosulfuric acid. What is HCl?

5. Naming Acids Naming Oxyacids is just a little more complicated.
Ignore the hydrogen. It is not mentioned when naming an oxyacid.
Look at the other part of the formula. It is a polyatomic ion which has a name you should know or be able to look up. If the polyatomic ion ends with “-ate”, take the ate off and replace it with “-ic”.
If the polyatomic ion’s name ends with “-ite”, take the ite off and replace it with “-ous”.
Finish the name with “acid”.
H2SO4 is sulfuric acid, because the polyatomic ion is sulfate. HNO2 is nitrous acid, as the polyatomic ion is nitrite.

6. Naming Acids H3PO4 is called H3P is called H2S is called
H2SO3 is called

7. Naming Acids
Just for fun (wheee!) let’s try it the other way. I’ll name an acid, and you tell if it’s a binary acid or an oxyacid. Remember which ones have “hydro”.
Hydrobromic acid
Chloric acid
Sulferous acid
Hydroiodic acid

8. Naming Acids Now let’s figure out the formulas!
Hydrobromic acid is a binary acid made from…
hydrogen and…
bromine.
H+ + Br- =…
The formula for hydrobromic acid is HBr.

9. Naming Acids
2. Chloric acid is an oxyacid, so it’s name does not have “hydro”. It is composed of hydrogen and …
chlorate!
You figure this one out. Use the list of polyatomic ions on the back of your PT of E.

10. Now let’s determine the formula of each named acid
Now let’s determine the formula of each named acid. Remember to first consider whether the acid is an oxyacid or a binary acid.
Hydrofluoric acid
Nitrous acid
Sulferous acid
Hydroiodic acid