Sunday, December 17, 2006
Regents/Honors Compound Naming Practice
Here's another good website that shows how to determine a compound's name from its chemical formula and vice-versa.
http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Nomenclature/Nomenclature.html
There is one thing that shows up in a few examples that you should ignore on this site:
the "-ic" and "-ous" suffix naming system for transition metals and for molecules. Though, even today, many chemical manufacturers still put such names on their chemical containers, that naming system is considered too informal. The modern "Stock system" is the internationally used system and will be the only system that is used on the Regents (even AP is almost 100% switched over to the newer standard) and on our tests.
Just FYI, it is good to have seen the old system; it's quite easy to figure out. For example, Copper can form either a 1+ or a 2+ cation. In compounds of Cu 1+, we now say,
for example, copper I chloride; in the "old-skool" system, we would call that cuprOUS chloride. In compounds of Cu 2+, we now say, for example, copper II chloride; in the "old-skool" system, we would call that cuprIC chloride. So, if there is more than one possible ion for a transition metal, "ous" goes with the lower ionic charge of any given transition metal, and "ic" with the higher ionic charge of any given transition metal. Simply, "ous" has been replaced with the lower possible cation charge number and "ic" has been replaced with the higher possible cation charge number.
http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Nomenclature/Nomenclature.html
There is one thing that shows up in a few examples that you should ignore on this site:
the "-ic" and "-ous" suffix naming system for transition metals and for molecules. Though, even today, many chemical manufacturers still put such names on their chemical containers, that naming system is considered too informal. The modern "Stock system" is the internationally used system and will be the only system that is used on the Regents (even AP is almost 100% switched over to the newer standard) and on our tests.
Just FYI, it is good to have seen the old system; it's quite easy to figure out. For example, Copper can form either a 1+ or a 2+ cation. In compounds of Cu 1+, we now say,
for example, copper I chloride; in the "old-skool" system, we would call that cuprOUS chloride. In compounds of Cu 2+, we now say, for example, copper II chloride; in the "old-skool" system, we would call that cuprIC chloride. So, if there is more than one possible ion for a transition metal, "ous" goes with the lower ionic charge of any given transition metal, and "ic" with the higher ionic charge of any given transition metal. Simply, "ous" has been replaced with the lower possible cation charge number and "ic" has been replaced with the higher possible cation charge number.