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Acids and Bases Nomenclature

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Naming Acids

 

Acids are named by the anion they form when dissolved in water. Depending on what anion the hydrogen is attached to, acids will have different names.

 

Simple acids, known as binary acids, have only one anion and one hydrogen. These anions usually have the ending "-ide." As acids, these compounds are named starting with the prefix "hydro-," then adding the first syllable of the anion, then the suffix "-ic." For example, HCl, which is hydrogen and chlorine, is called hydrochloric acid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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More complex acids have oxygen in the compound. There is a simple set of rules for these acids.

 

 

 

  • Any polyatomic ion with the suffix "-ate" uses the suffix "-ic" as an acid. So, HNO3 will be nitric acid.

  • When you have a polyatomic ion with one more oxygen than the "-ate" ion, then your acid will have the prefix "per-" and the suffix "-ic." For example, the chlorate ion is ClO3-. Therefore, HClO4 is called perchloric acid.

  • With one fewer oxygen than the "-ate" ion, the acid will have the suffix "-ous." For example, chlorous acid is HClO2.

  • With two fewer oxygen than the "-ate" ion, the prefix will be "hypo-" and the suffix will be "-ous." For example, instead of bromic acid, HBrO3, we have hypobromous acid, HBrO.

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Naming Bases

 

Most strong bases contain hydroxide, a polyatomic ion. Therefore, strong bases are named following the rules for naming ionic compounds. For example, NaOH is sodium hydroxide, KOH is potassium hydroxide, and Ca(OH)2 is calcium hydroxide. Weak bases made of ionic compounds are also named using the ionic naming system. For example, NH4OH is ammonium hydroxide.

 

Weak bases are also sometimes molecular compounds or organic compounds because they have covalent bonds. Therefore, they are named following the rules for molecular or organic compounds. For example, methyl amine (CH3NH2) is a weak base. Some weak bases have "common" names. For example, NH3 is called ammonia; its name isn't derived from any naming system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Source: Boundless. “Naming Acids and Bases.” Boundless Chemistry. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Retrieved 08 Aug. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/textbooks/boundless-chemistry-textbook/atoms-molecules-and-ions-2/naming-compounds-38/naming-acids-and-bases-214-1019/

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