1. Naming Compounds: cations and anions

2. Elements and symbols that you should know:
Part 1 – The obvious ones:
Hydrogen
Helium
Lithium
Beryllium
Boron
Carbon
Nitrogen H He Li Be B C N
Oxygen
Fluorine
Neon
Magnesium
Aluminium
Silicon
Phosphorus O F Ne Mg Al Si P

3. Some more obvious ones:
Sulphur
Chlorine
Argon S Cl Ar
18) Calcium
19) Zinc Ca Zn
The less obvious ones:
Sodium
Potassium
Iron
Copper
Silver Na K Fe Cu Ag
6) Tin
7) Gold
8) Mercury
9) Lead Sn Au Hg Pb

4. Polyatomic ions (-1 charge)
H2PO4 DiHydrogen phosphate
C2H3O2 Acetate
HSO3 Hydrogen Sulfite
HCO3 Hydrogen Carbonate
NO2 Nitrite
NO3 Nitrate
CN Cyanide
OH Hydroxide
MnO4 Permanganate
ClO Hypochlorite
ClO2 Chlorite
ClO3 Chlorate
ClO4 Perchlorate

5. Polyatomic ions (-2 charge)
HPO4 Hydrogen Phosphate
C2O4 Oxalate
SO3 Sulfite
SO4 Sulfate
CO3 Carbonate
CrO4 Chromate
Cr2O7 Dichromate
SiO3 Silicate

6. Polyatomic ions (-3 charge)
PO3 Phosphite
PO4 Phosphate

7. Rule 1– If two identical elements combine then the name doesn’t change
This happens with the following elements: H2 N2 O2 F2
Cl2
Br2
These elements always go around in pairs (diatomic molecules). For example, hydrogen looks like this:

8. e.g. Magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide
Rule 2 – When two elements join and one is a halogen, oxygen or sulphur the name ends with ____ide
e.g. Magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide
Sodium + chlorine
Magnesium + fluorine
Lithium + iodine
Chlorine + copper
Oxygen + iron
KBr
LiCl
CaO
MgS KF

9. e.g. Sodium + hydrogen + oxygen Sodium hydroxide
Rule 3 – When three or more elements combine and two of them are hydrogen and oxygen the name ends with hydroxide
e.g. Sodium + hydrogen + oxygen Sodium hydroxide
Potassium + hydrogen + oxygen
Lithium + hydrogen + oxygen
Calcium + hydrogen + oxygen
Mg(OH)2

10. e.g. Copper + sulphur + oxygen Copper sulphate
Rule 4 – When three or more elements combine and one of them is oxygen the ending is _____ate
e.g. Copper + sulphur + oxygen Copper sulphate
Calcium + carbon + oxygen
Potassium + carbon + oxygen
Calcium + sulphur + oxygen
Magnesium + chlorine + oxygen
Calcium + oxygen + nitrogen
AgNO3
H2SO4
K2CO3

11. Covalent formulae Ionic formulae H2O CO2 NH3 H2 O2 N2 SO2 Water
Carbon dioxide
Ammonia
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Sulphur dioxide
NaCl
CaCl2
MgO
HCl
H2SO4
HNO3
NaOH
Ca(OH)2
CaCO3
Al2O3
Fe2O3
Sodium chloride
Calcium chloride
Magnesium oxide
Hydrochloric acid
Sulphuric acid
Nitric acid
Sodium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide
Calcium carbonate
Aluminium oxide
Iron oxide

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