Inorganic nomenclature – formulas and names of oxides, acids, bases and salts
ChemistryInorganic ChemistryAges 13–14
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Combine a positive part (H⁺, NH₄⁺, metal ions with one or two common charges, or a non-metal with an oxidation number) with a negative part (oxide, peroxide, hydride, halides, sulfide, hydroxide, oxoanions such as NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, CO₃²⁻, PO₄³⁻ and ClO⁻ to ClO₄⁻, and hydrogen anions such as HCO₃⁻). The charges are balanced to a neutral formula and the compound is named by the IUPAC 2005 recommendations: Stock names with oxidation numbers (iron(III) oxide), composition names with prefixes (dinitrogen pentaoxide), hydrogen names of oxoacids (hydrogen(trioxidonitrate)) and the traditional names IUPAC accepts (nitric acid). Two quizzes, formula → name and name → formula, can be limited to one class and one type of name, with feedback on each mistake.
Lesson: Naming inorganic compounds: oxides, peroxides, hydrides, hydracids, hydroxides, oxoacids and salts
What it shows
An ionic formula is neutral: the charges of the cations and anions add up to zero, so Fe³⁺ and O²⁻ give Fe₂O₃. IUPAC names compounds in several ways. A Stock name gives the oxidation number of a metal with several charges in Roman numerals (iron(III) oxide). A composition name counts the atoms with prefixes (diiron trioxide, dinitrogen pentaoxide). Oxoacids keep traditional names such as sulfuric acid and also have hydrogen names. Older names such as ferric oxide are shown too, and only known, common compounds appear in the quizzes.
How to use
On Build, tap a positive part and a negative part: the ion tiles, the charge sum and the formula appear with every name of the compound. Random compound picks one for you. On Formula → name, choose the right name among four, then press Next. On Name → formula, pick both parts, set Number of positive parts and Number of negative parts, then press Check. Use Class and Name type to practise one group.
Parameters you can change
- Screen Build, Formula → name, Name → formula
- Class All classes, Oxides, Peroxides, Metal hydrides, Non-metal hydrides, Hydracids (hydrogen halides, H₂S), Hydroxides, Oxoacids, Oxosalts, Acid salts, Binary salts, Binary compounds of non-metals
- Name type Any name, Oxidation number (Stock), Composition (prefixes), Traditional and accepted names, Hydrogen names
Questions to explore
- Why does iron(III) oxide need two iron ions for every three oxide ions?
- When does a name need a Roman numeral, and when does it use prefixes such as di- and tri-?
- How do the names nitric acid and nitrous acid show which acid contains more oxygen?
