How to Name Ionic Compounds
Here is a set of guidelines for naming ionic compounds: Ionic compounds consist of cations (positive ions) and anions (negative ions). The nomenclature, or naming, of ionic compounds is based on the names of the component ions. Here are the principal naming conventions for ionic compounds, along with examples to show how they are used: Roman Numerals A Roman numeral in parentheses, followed by the name of the element, is used for elements that can form more than one positive ion. This is usually seen with metals. You can use a chart to see the possible valences for the elements. Fe2+ Iron (II) Fe3+ Iron (III) Cu+ Copper (I) Cu2+ Copper (II) -ide The -ide ending is added to the name of a monoatomic ion of an element. H- Hydride F- Fluoride Cl Chloride Br Bromide O2- Oxide S2- Sulfide N3- Nitride P3- Phosphide -ite and -ate Some polyatomic anions contain oxygen. These anions are called oxyanions. When an element forms two oxyanions, the one with less oxygen is given a name ending in -ite
