Nomenclature

Nomenclature is the naming of compounds, although the term is commonly used to describe both the naming of compounds and the writing of formulas. We will be using it in that context.

Before you read any further, it is important that you understand what a formula means. 

Nomenclature is immensely important for the study of chemistry since it makes up the “basic vocabulary” of chemistry. Nomenclature is the way that one chemist or chemistry student describes to another what they are doing and with which chemicals they are doing it. 

To be proficient at nomenclature there are two skills you must acquire. You must be able to name a compound from its formula and you must be able to write the formula for a compound from its name.

To complicate matters, there are four totally separate systems of nomenclature (just within basic first year chemistry). So when working with a compound you need to know which system applies as well as how to use each system.

The four systems are for ionic compounds, for acids, for (simple) organic compounds and for covalent (also called molecular) compounds. 

The first thing you must learn to do is to determine which naming system to use for the compound at hand. 

So...how do you know if something is an ionic compound, an acid, an organic compound or a covalent compound? That depends on whether you are looking at a formula or looking at a name.

Once you have determined the type of compound you are working with, you can proceed to either write the formula or name the compound. 

Warning: if you are working with either an acid or an ionic compound, you will need to know your polyatomic ions.

Writing formulas for:

• ionic compounds
• acids
• organic compounds
• covalent compounds

Naming:

• ionic compounds
• acids
• organic compounds
• covalent compounds