Question

Explain the specific ways to be followed while naming chemical compounds?

Answer 1

1. In naming a compound containing a metal and a non-metal, the name of the metal is written first and the name of the non-metal is written next after adding the suffix-ide to its name.
   Examples:
   NaCl – Sodium chloride
   AgBr – Silver bromide
2. In naming a compound containing a metal, a non-metal, and oxygen, the name of the metal is written first and the name of the non-metal with oxygen is written next after adding the suffix- ate (for more atoms of oxygen) or -ite (for fewer atoms of oxygen) to its name.
   Examples:
   Na₂ SO₄ – Sodium sulpate
   Na ₂ – Sodium nitrite
3. In naming a compound containing two non–metals only, the prefix mono, di, tri, tetra, Penta, etc. is written before the name of non–metals.
4. Examples:
   SO₂ – Sulphur dioxide
   N₂O₅ – Dinitrogen pentoxide.