1. Naming Molecules
Covalent Compounds

2. Learning Goals
Translate molecular formulas into binary molecular compound names.
Name acidic solutions.

3. Naming Molecular Compounds
Ex. N2O
The first element is always named first using the entire element name, N is the symbol for nitrogen.

4. Naming Molecular Compounds
The second element is named using its root and adding the suffix -ide, O is the symbol for oxygen so the second word is oxide.

5. Naming Molecular Compounds
Prefixes are used to indicate the number of atoms of each element that are present in the compound, There are two atoms of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen so the first word is dinitrogen and the second word is monoxide.

7. Naming Molecular Compounds
Many compounds were discovered and given common names long before the present naming system was developed (water, ammonia, hydrazine, nitric oxide).

9. Naming Acids
Binary Acids (An acid that contains hydrogen and one other element) – Ex. HCl

10. Naming Acids
The first word has the prefix hydro- to name the hydrogen part of the compound. The rest of the word consists of a form of the root of the second element plus the suffix–ic, HCl (hydrogen and chlorine) becomes hydrochloric.

11. Naming Acids
The second word is always acid, Thus, HCl in a water solution is called hydrochloric acid.

12. Naming Acids
An oxyacid is an acid that contains both a hydrogen atom and an oxyanion. Ex. HNO3

13. Naming Acids
Identify the oxyanion present. The first word of an oxyacid’s name consists of the root of the oxyanion and the prefix per- or hypo- if it is part of the name and a suffix. If the oxyanion’s name ends with the suffix –ate, replace it with the suffix –ic. If the name of the oxyanion ends with suffix –ite, replace it with suffix –ous, NO3 the nitrate ion, becomes nitric.

14. Naming Acids
The second word of the name is always acid, HNO3 (hydrogen and nitrogen ion) becomes nitric acid.

17. Naming Acids
An acid, whether a binary acid or an oxyacid, can have a common name in addition to its compound name.