Ionic and Covalent Nomenclature

Front

What is ionic nomenclature?

Back

Ionic nomenclature is the system used to name ionic compounds, which are formed from the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions.

Front

What is covalent nomenclature?

Back

Covalent nomenclature is the system used to name covalent compounds, which are formed when two or more nonmetals share electrons.

Front

What is the formula for aluminum chloride?

Back

AlCl3

Front

What is the name for the compound NI3?

Back

nitrogen triiodide

Front

What is the formula for potassium iodide?

Back

KI

Front

What is the name for the compound AsF3?

Back

arsenic trifluoride

Front

What is the correct name for P4O10?

Back

tetraphosphorus decoxide

Front

How do you determine the charge of a cation in an ionic compound?

Back

The charge of a cation can be determined by its position in the periodic table; for example, alkali metals have a +1 charge, alkaline earth metals have a +2 charge.

Front

What is the significance of prefixes in covalent nomenclature?

Back

Prefixes indicate the number of atoms of each element in a covalent compound; for example, 'di-' means two, 'tri-' means three.

Front

What is the difference between a molecular formula and an empirical formula?

Back

A molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule, while an empirical formula shows the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements.