Naming Acids and Bases
When naming bases, we use the rules for ionic compounds we learned near the beginning of the year. For a review, click here.
When naming acids, there are two ways. Acids that are monatomic, sometimes called binary, are named differently than other acids. A monatomic acid is an acid that contains only 2 different elements (hydrogen and one other element); Examples are HCl, H2S, H3P. When naming these binary acids, you use the following steps:
Naming Monatomic Acids
1) Start with the prefix “Hydro-”, followed by
2) Root (named after the anion – element other than hydrogen), followed by
3) a suffix “-ic”; all three of these steps in one word
4) Followed by the word “acid”
Ex. HF Answer: Hydroflouric Acid
Ex. 2: HCl Answer: Hydrochloric Acid
1) Start with the prefix “Hydro-”, followed by
2) Root (named after the anion – element other than hydrogen), followed by
3) a suffix “-ic”; all three of these steps in one word
4) Followed by the word “acid”
Ex. HF Answer: Hydroflouric Acid
Ex. 2: HCl Answer: Hydrochloric Acid
Polyatomic acids are named differently than monatomic acids. A polyatomic acid, sometimes called an oxyacid, is an acid that contains 3 or more elements (hydrogen and at least two other elements); Examples are HClO3, H2SO4, H3PO4. When naming these oxyacids, you use the following steps:
Naming Polyatomic Acids
1) Start with the root (named after the anion group – group name other than hydrogen), followed by
2a) a suffix “-ic” if the root ion ends with -ate or -ide ending,
or
2b) a suffix “-ous” if the root ion ions with -ite ending.
3) Followed by the word “acid”
1) Start with the root (named after the anion group – group name other than hydrogen), followed by
2a) a suffix “-ic” if the root ion ends with -ate or -ide ending,
or
2b) a suffix “-ous” if the root ion ions with -ite ending.
3) Followed by the word “acid”
Ex. HNO3 Answer : Nitric acid
Ex. HClO3 Answer : Chlorous acid
Ex. HClO3 Answer : Chlorous acid
Warning: there is no hydro prefix on polyatomic acids!