Is There a Definitive Guide to Naming Nonorganic Compounds?

[dduardo]

Is there a definitive guide to naming nonorganic compounds. Preferable some type of flow chart diagram of some sort. I can't imagine how many times an experiment went horrible wrong because of the illogical nature of the naming system.

 

[Moonbear]

One thing chemistry definitely has are good naming rules for everything! IUPAC rules are the standard. I actually think nomenclature for inorganic compounds is far more straightforward than for organic compounds. Trouble usually arises when folks use non-systemic names (in other words, common names...sort of the equivalent to biologists calling a dog a dog rather than by a species name Canis familiaris...you've never heard a chemist talking about dihydrogen oxide, they call it water too). Of course, when in doubt, skip the name and use the chemical formula...much more unambiguous.

 

[ravenprp]

There is no definitive guide or flow chart for naming nonorganic compounds, as the naming system can vary depending on the type of compound and the naming conventions used by different organizations. However, there are some general guidelines that can be followed to help with naming nonorganic compounds.

Firstly, it is important to understand the basic components of a nonorganic compound, which include the cation (positively charged ion) and the anion (negatively charged ion). The cation is usually listed first in the name, followed by the anion.

Next, it is important to identify the type of compound, such as an ionic compound, covalent compound, or acid. This will determine the specific naming rules that need to be followed.

For ionic compounds, the cation is named first, followed by the anion with the suffix -ide. For covalent compounds, the first element is named first, followed by the second element with the suffix -ide. In some cases, prefixes may be used to indicate the number of atoms present.

For acids, the name begins with the prefix hydro- and ends with the suffix -ic, followed by the word "acid". In some cases, different suffixes may be used to indicate the strength of the acid.

It is also important to be familiar with common nonorganic compounds and their names, as this can help with understanding the naming system and recognizing patterns.

While the naming system for nonorganic compounds may seem illogical at times, it is important to remember that it is based on a set of rules and conventions that have been developed over time. With practice and familiarity, it becomes easier to navigate and understand the naming of nonorganic compounds.