Question 4.7: Name the following binary ionic compounds. a. MgO b. Al2S3 c......
Name the following binary ionic compounds.
a. MgO b. Al_{2}S_{3} c. K_{3}N d. CaCl_{2}
The general pattern for naming binary ionic compounds is
\quad\quad\quad\quadName of metal + stem of name of nonmetal + -ide
a. The metal is magnesium and the nonmetal is oxygen. Thus the compound’s name is magnesium oxide.
b. The metal is aluminum and the nonmetal is sulfur; the compound’s name is aluminum sulfide. Note that no mention is made of the subscripts present in the formula—the 2 and the 3. The name of an ionic compound never contains any reference to formula subscript numbers. There is only one ratio in which aluminum and sulfur atoms combine. Thus, just telling the names of the elements present in the compound is adequate nomenclature.
c. Potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) are present in the compound, and its name is potassium nitride.
d. The compound’s name is calcium chloride.