Naming (Ionic) Compounds Practice Sheet - Free Printable

Let's go through each ionic compound listed on the practice sheet and name them correctly based on standard chemical nomenclature rules.

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Rules for Naming Ionic Compounds:

1. Metal + Nonmetal: Name the metal first, then the nonmetal with an "-ide" ending.
2. Transition metals with variable charges (e.g., Fe, Cr, Cu): Use Roman numerals in parentheses to indicate the charge.
3. Polyatomic ions: Use their common names (e.g., NO₃⁻ = nitrate, SO₄²⁻ = sulfate).
4. Hydroxides (OH⁻): End in "hydroxide".
5. Ammonium (NH₄⁺): Named as a cation.

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Now, let’s solve each one:

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1) Na₂CO₃
- Na⁺ is sodium
- CO₃²⁻ is carbonate
→ Sodium carbonate

2) NaOH
- Na⁺ is sodium
- OH⁻ is hydroxide
→ Sodium hydroxide

3) MgBr₂
- Mg²⁺ is magnesium
- Br⁻ is bromide
→ Magnesium bromide

4) KCl
- K⁺ is potassium
- Cl⁻ is chloride
→ Potassium chloride

5) FeCl₂
- Fe has variable charge
- Chloride is Cl⁻ → two of them = 2–
- So Fe must be +2 → Iron(II)
→ Iron(II) chloride

6) FeCl₃
- Three Cl⁻ = 3– → Fe must be +3
→ Iron(III) chloride

7) Zn(OH)₂
- Zn²⁺ is zinc (fixed charge, always +2)
- OH⁻ is hydroxide
→ Zinc hydroxide

8) BeSO₄
- Be²⁺ is beryllium
- SO₄²⁻ is sulfate
→ Beryllium sulfate

9) CrF₂
- Cr has variable charge
- F⁻ is fluoride, two of them = 2– → Cr is +2
→ Chromium(II) fluoride

10) Al₂S₃
- Al³⁺ is aluminum
- S²⁻ is sulfide
→ Aluminum sulfide

11) PbO
- Pb has variable charge
- O²⁻ is oxide
- One O = 2– → Pb must be +2
→ Lead(II) oxide

12) Li₃PO₄
- Li⁺ is lithium
- PO₄³⁻ is phosphate
→ Lithium phosphate

13) TlI₄
- Tl is thallium; can have +1 or +3
- I⁻ is iodide; four of them = 4– → Tl must be +4? But Tl doesn't commonly form +4
Wait — actually, TlI₄ is unusual. Thallium typically forms Tl⁺ or Tl³⁺.
But TlI₄ is known as thallium(I) iodide, but that would be TlI.
Wait — this formula suggests Tl⁴⁺? That's not typical.
Actually, TlI₄ is thallium(IV) iodide, though rare.
But more likely, it might be a typo or misrepresentation.
However, assuming correct formula:
Four I⁻ = 4– → Tl must be +4
→ Thallium(IV) iodide

But note: Thallium usually forms Tl⁺ (like alkali metals), so TlI₄ may be incorrect.
But if we follow the formula:
→ Thallium(IV) iodide

14) Co₂N₂
- Co is cobalt (variable charge)
- N³⁻ is nitride
- Two N³⁻ = 6– → total charge from two Co atoms = +6 → each Co = +3
→ Cobalt(III) nitride

15) Mg₃P₂
- Mg²⁺ is magnesium
- P³⁻ is phosphide
→ Magnesium phosphide

16) Ga(NO₃)₃
- Ga³⁺ is gallium
- NO₃⁻ is nitrate
→ Gallium nitrate

17) Ag₂SO₃
- Ag⁺ is silver (always +1)
- SO₃²⁻ is sulfite
→ Silver sulfite

18) NH₄OH
- NH₄⁺ is ammonium
- OH⁻ is hydroxide
→ Ammonium hydroxide

19) Al(CN)₃
- Al³⁺ is aluminum
- CN⁻ is cyanide
→ Aluminum cyanide

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✔ Final Answers:

1) Sodium carbonate
2) Sodium hydroxide
3) Magnesium bromide
4) Potassium chloride
5) Iron(II) chloride
6) Iron(III) chloride
7) Zinc hydroxide
8) Beryllium sulfate
9) Chromium(II) fluoride
10) Aluminum sulfide
11) Lead(II) oxide
12) Lithium phosphate
13) Thallium(IV) iodide
14) Cobalt(III) nitride
15) Magnesium phosphide
16) Gallium nitrate
17) Silver sulfite
18) Ammonium hydroxide
19) Aluminum cyanide

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✔ Note: For #13 (TlI₄), while thallium(IV) compounds are rare, they do exist in some contexts. If your class expects only common oxidation states, you might double-check with your teacher. But based on stoichiometry, TlI₄ implies Tl⁴⁺.

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