Download Nomenclature of Binary Inorganic Covalent Compounds

Nomenclature of Binary Inorganic Covalent Compounds
1) In both the names and formulas, the first non-metal written is the more metallic non-metal (further left or
lower down).
2) Subscripts in the formulas indicate the actual numbers of each non-metal atom present in a molecule of the
compound.
3) Naming these compounds:
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The name of the first non-metal is unchanged. The ending of the second non-metal is changed to __ide.
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Prefixes are used in the names to indicate the specific number of each atom present in a molecule of the
compound. A list of prefixes 1-12 is provided below. They must be memorized.
Prefixes are needed because often the same two non-metals can combine in different proportions
producing different covalent compounds.
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The prefix “mono” is dropped if there is only one atom of the first non-metal present in the compound.
1
mono
2
di
3
tri
4
tetra
5
penta
6
hexa
7
hepta
8
octa
9
nona
10
deca
11
undeca
12
dodeca
Exceptions
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No prefixes are used at all in the names of simple inorganic covalent compounds containing H.
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Many covalent compounds use common names instead of systematic names. Notable examples are H2O
(water) and NH3 (ammonia).