Determining Names and Formulas of Ionic Compounds Containing Polyatomic Ions (Including Hydrates)
Problem Give the systematic name for the formula or the formula for the name:
(a) Fe(ClO_4)_2 (b) Sodium sulfite (c) Ba(OH)_2·8H_2O
Solution (a) ClO_4^− is perchlorate, which has a 1− charge, so the cation must be Fe^{2+}. The name is iron(II) perchlorate. (The common name is ferrous perchlorate.)
(b) Sodium is Na^+; sulfite is SO_3^{2−}, and two Na^+ ions balance one SO_3^{2−} ion. The formula is Na_2SO_3.
(c) Ba^{2+} is barium; OH^− is hydroxide. There are eight (octa-) water molecules in each formula unit. The name is barium hydroxide octahydrate.