Compound Naming Race

Naming Covalent compounds

Covalent compounds are named using numeral prefixes. At this point we will only name binary covalent compounds (those w/ only 2 different elements). The prefixes are located on your polyatomic ions sheet.

Numeral prefixes 1- Mono 2-di 3-tri 4-tetra 5-penta 6-hexa 7-hepta 8-octa 9-nona 10-deca

The name of the first element remains unchanged. The suffix of the 2nd element changes to ide. The only time a numeral prefix is NOT used is when there is only one atom of the first element.

Eg 1. Name the following compounds a) H2O H has a prefix of 2 which is “di” so the first part of the name is dihyrogen O has 1 atom so has a prefix of “mon” & is the 2nd element so it ends in “ide” monoxide

The whole name is dihydrogen monoxide b) C2H6 C has 2 atoms so a prefix of “di”. The first part of the name is dicarbon H has 6 atoms so a prefix of “hexa” & is the 2nd element so ends in “ide” hexahydride

The whole name is dicarbon hexahydride.

Eg. 2. Write the name of the following compounds a) phosphorus tribromide Phosphorus has no prefix so there is only 1. Tri means there are 3 bromines. PBr3 b) disulfur pentachloride sulfur is “di” so has a 2 subscript, chloride is “penta” so has a 5 subscript S2Cl5 c) nitrogen monoxide Nitrogen is first & has no prefix so there is only 1. Mon on oxide also means a subcript of 1 NO

Additional help, examples & practice can be found in Chapter 2 of your AP Chemistry text by Zumdahl. Naming Covalent Compounds Worksheet

Write the formulas for the following covalent compounds:

1) antimony tribromide ______

2) hexaboron silicide ______

3) chlorine dioxide ______

4) hydrogen iodide ______

5) iodine pentafluoride ______

6) dinitrogen trioxide ______

7) ammonia ______

8) phosphorus triiodide ______

Write the names for the following covalent compounds:

9) P4S5 ______

10) O2 ______

11) SeF6 ______

12) Si2Br6 ______

13) SCl4 ______

14) CH4 ______

15) B2Si ______

16) NF3 ______Naming Covalent Compounds Solutions

Write the formulas for the following covalent compounds:

1) antimony tribromide SbBr3

2) hexaboron silicide B6Si

3) chlorine dioxide ClO2

4) hydrogen iodide HI

5) iodine pentafluoride IF5

6) dinitrogen trioxide N2O3

7) ammonia NH3

8) phosphorus triiodide PI3

Write the names for the following covalent compounds:

9) P4S5 tetraphosphorus pentasulfide

10) O2 oxygen

11) SeF6 selenium hexafluoride

12) Si2Br6 disilicon hexafluoride

13) SCl4 sulfur tetrachloride

14) CH4 carbon tetrahyrdidemethane

15) B2Si diboron silicide

16) NF3 nitrogen trifluoride