CHEM 131A : Fundamentals D - Compound Nomenclature
Document Summary
Chemical principles: the quest for insight by atkins and jones. Many compounds were given informal, common names before their compositions were known: sugar, water, quartz, ect. Systematic names reveal which elements are present and sometimes the arrangements of atoms. Chemical nomenclature the systematic naming of compounds. Monatomic cation: na+ = sodium ion, same name as the element that forms it, plus the word ion . When an element can form more than one cation: write oxidation number (charge of cation) as roman numerals in parentheses after name of element, cu+ = copper(i) ion, cu2+ = copper(ii) ion. Most transition metals (d-block in periodic table) form more than one cation: unless given other info, use oxidation numbers in the names of their compounds. Some still use older systems of nomenclature: some cations were denoted with endings -ous (lower charge) and -ic (higher charge, these endings often added to latin versions of atom names.
