Why are compound formulas written in a specific order?

[ilanmichaeli]

Hello, i am studying about ions and compounds currently and i wonder why do certain formulas are written in a certain order, for example: silver sulfide - why isn't it written as sulfide silver? or copper(II) chloride - could the chloride be written first?

like everything in chemistry I'm sure it has a reason, and like I've learned before i won't try to give it my reasons :).

hope someone could help,
thanks :)

 

[Borek]

Naming rules are defined by IUPAC (see http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/principles/principles_of_nomenclature.pdf) - and they are nothing more but a convention.

 

[ilanmichaeli]

Naming rules are defined by IUPAC (see http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/principles/principles_of_nomenclature.pdf) - and they are nothing more but a convention.

thanks a lot!