Naming

Atoms, molecules of elements,

molecules of compounds
• Atoms: O H S

• Molecules: S
S S
S
– of element: O O HH
S S
S S

O
– of compound: H H
O O

S O
O
H H
 Atoms, molecules of elements,
molecules of compounds
• Atoms: O H S

The building blocks of matter. Each consists of a

nucleus, containing protons and neutrons,
with electrons orbiting the nucleus.
 Atoms, molecules of elements,
molecules of compounds
• Molecules: The smallest stably existing
particle. Usually consists of two or more
atoms or ions chemically bonded together.
– of element: consist of one kind of atom S S
throughout S
S
O O HH S S
S S

– of compound: consist of two or more different

kinds of atoms bonded chemically O O

S O
O O
H H H H
 Molecules
– Monatomic: He
Ar
Ne

– diatomic: O O HH

S S
– polyatomic: S O O
S
O S S O
H H S O
S S H H
 Molecules
– monatomic: one atom is stable on its own, so is
also called a molecule He
Ar
(Noble gases) Ne

– diatomic: two atoms bond together per molecule

O O HH

– polyatomic: more than two atoms bond together

per molecule
S S
S O O
S
O S S O
H H S O
S S H H
Coefficients & superscripts
O2 + 2H2 + 3H2SO4

O O
O O
S O
O S O
H H O
H H
O O HH
O O
HH
S O
O
H H
 Coefficients
1O2 + 2H2 + 3H2SO4
3 molecules H2 SO4
1 molecule O2

O O
O O
O O
S O
O S O
H H O
2 molecules H2 H H

O O
HH S O
O
HH H H
 Subscripts
1O2

2 atoms O per molecule

O O
 Subscripts
2H2

2 atoms H per molecule

HH

HH
 Subscripts
3H2SO4

2 atoms H per
molecule O O
O
O
S O
O S O
H H O
H H

O O

S O
O
H H
 Subscripts
3H2S1O4

1 atoms S
per molecule O O
O
O
S O
O S O
H H O
H H

O O

S O
O
H H
 Subscripts
3H2SO4

4 atoms O
per O O
O
O
molecule O S O
S O
H H O
H H

O O

S O
O
H H
 Coefficients and superscripts
• Coefficients: ratio of reacting molecules
1O2 + 2H2 + 3H2SO4

• Superscripts: ratio of atoms per molecule

1O2 + 2H2 + 3H2S1O4
 True and empirical formulae:
small molecules
True formula Empirical formula

S
S S
S
S8 S
S S
S S

C6 H12 O6 CH2O
True and empirical formulae:
giant molecules
Type of giant True formula Empirical formula

Ionic NaCl

Impossible
to give
Covalent C
Metallic Cu
 S S
S
S
S S
True and empirical formulae
S S

• True: A formula which shows how many atoms

bond to form a single molecule. Can be used
for small molecules, but is never used for giant
molecules.
e.g. S8

• Empirical: A formula which shows the simplest

ratio in which the atoms / ions bond. Always
used for giant molecules. Can also be used for
some small molecules.
e.g. S
 Give true formulae:
a)

b)

c)

d)
 Give true formulae:
a) H2

b) Kr

c) P4

d) I2
 Give true formulae:
a)
H first
b)

c)

d) Metal first
 Give true formulae:
a) HCl

b) H2O

c) MgCl

d) CuSO4
 Give true formulae:
a) Ne Ne

b) H H

c) H H H H H H

d) O C O
O C O
 Give true formulae:
a) Ne Ne 2Ne

b) H H H2

c) H H H H H H 3H2

d) O C O
O C O
2CO2
 Give true formulae:
a)

b)

c)

d)
 Give true formulae:
a) 4HCl

b) 2MgCl2

c) H2SO4

d) 3I2
 Substances of 2 elements
name of the element furthest to the left in the
periodic table, followed by the name of the
one furthest to the right with the suffix ide

a) LiH d)
b) CaF2
c) MgO e)
 Substances of 2 elements
a) LiH Lithium hydride
b) CaF2 Calcium fluoride
c) MgO Magnesium oxide
d) Hydrogen chloride (HCl)

e) Magnesium chloride (MgCl2)

 Substances of 2 elements
If two or more forms exist which could be
confused, use prefixes to show number:

1: mono-
2: di-
3: tri-
4: tetra-
5: pent-
 Substances of 2 elements
1: mono- 2: di- 3: tri- 4: tetra- 5: pent

a) CO
b) CO2
c) SO3
d) NO2
e) N2O4
f) P2O5
 Substances of 2 elements
1: mono- 2: di- 3: tri- 4: tetra- 5: pent

a) CO Carbon monoxide
b) CO2 Carbon dioxide
c) SO3 Sulphur trioxide
d) NO2 Nitrogen dioxide
e) N2O4 Nitrogen tetroxide (dinitrogen tetroxide)
f) P2O5 Phosphorus pentroxide (diphosphorus pentoxide)
 Compound ions
• Ammonium NH4+
• Sulphate: SO42-
• Sulphite: SO32-
• Hydrogen sulphate (bisulphate): HSO4-
• Nitrate: NO3-
• Nitrite: NO2-
• Hydroxide: OH-
• Carbonate: CO32-
• Hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate): HCO3-
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) Na2SO4
b) Na2SO3
c) NaHSO4
d) MgSO4
e) MgSO3
f) Mg(HSO4)2
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) Na2SO4 sodium sulphate
b) Na2SO3 sodium sulphite
c) NaHSO4 sodium bisulphate
(sodium hydrogen sulphate)
d) MgSO4 magnesium sulphate
e) MgSO3 magnesium sulphite
f) Mg(HSO4)2 magnesium bisulphate
(magnesium hydrogen sulphate)
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) KNO3
b) Ca(NO3)2
c) KNO2
d) Ca(NO2)2
e) NH4NO3
f) NH4NO2
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) KNO3 potassium nitrate
b) Ca(NO3)2 calcium nitrate
c) KNO2 potassium nitrite
d) Ca(NO2)2 calcium nitrite
e) NH4NO3 ammonium nitrate
f) NH4NO2 ammonium nitrite
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) KOH
b) Ca(OH)2
c) Al(OH)3
d) NH4OH
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) KOH potassium hydroxide
b) Ca(OH)2 calcium hydroxide
c) Al(OH)3 aluminium hydroxide
d) NH4OH ammonium hydroxide
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) Li2CO3
b) BeCO3
c) LiHCO3
d) Be(HCO3)2
 Naming with compound ions
Name:
a) Li2CO3 lithium carbonate
b) BeCO3 beryllium carbonate
c) LiHCO3 lithium bicarbonate
d) Be(HCO3)2 beryllium bicarbonate