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Ch. 5 Whitehead Lecture Part 2

Jun 11, 2025

Overview

This lecture covers the classification, naming, and formula mass calculations of chemical compounds, focusing on the rules for ionic, molecular, and acid compounds.

Classifying Compounds

  • Compounds are classified as ionic (metal + non-metal) or molecular (non-metals only).
  • Classification is needed to determine naming and formula rules.

Common Names

  • H₂O is called water, not dihydrogen monoxide.
  • NH₃ is called ammonia, while NH₄⁺ is ammonium (a polyatomic ion).

Ionic Compounds Naming

Type 1: Metals with Invariant Charges

  • Type 1 metals form only one type of ion (e.g., Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺).
  • Naming: [Metal name] + [Non-metal base]+ide (e.g., Calcium bromide for CaBr₂).
  • Do not use prefixes or indicate quantities in the name.

Type 2: Metals with Variable Charges (Transition Metals)

  • Type 2 metals can form multiple ions (e.g., Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu⁺, Cu²⁺).
  • Naming: [Metal name] ([Roman numeral charge]) + [Non-metal base]+ide (e.g., Iron(III) chloride for FeCl₃).
  • Roman numerals specify the ion’s charge.

Polyatomic Ions in Ionic Compounds

  • Use the polyatomic ion name without changing its ending (e.g., Copper(I) nitrate for CuNO₃).
  • Example: Ammonium chloride for NH₄Cl.

Molecular Compounds (Covalent)

  • Use prefixes to indicate the number of each atom (e.g., CO₂ = carbon dioxide, N₂O = dinitrogen monoxide).
  • Do not use "mono" for the first element if only one is present.
  • Second element ends with -ide.

Acids Naming

Binary Acids (Hydrogen + Nonmetal)

  • Naming: Hydro+[nonmetal base]+ic acid (e.g., HCl = hydrochloric acid).
  • Only two elements are present.

Oxyacids (Hydrogen + Polyatomic Ion)

  • If the polyatomic ion ends in -ate: [base name]+ic acid (NO₃⁻ = nitric acid).
  • If the polyatomic ion ends in -ite: [base name]+ous acid (NO₂⁻ = nitrous acid).
  • Do not use the "hydro" prefix for oxyacids.

Formula Mass Calculations

  • Formula mass = Σ(number of atoms × atomic mass for each element).
  • Example: H₂O = (2×1.008) + (1×15.999) = 18.01 amu.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Ionic compound — compound of metal and non-metal ions.
  • Molecular (covalent) compound — compound of only non-metals.
  • Polyatomic ion — an ion composed of multiple atoms.
  • Binary compound — compound with two elements.
  • Binary acid — acid with hydrogen and one non-metal.
  • Oxyacid — acid with hydrogen and a polyatomic ion containing oxygen.
  • Formula mass — the sum of the atomic masses in a formula unit (amu).

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Memorize common polyatomic ions and prefixes for molecular naming.
  • Practice naming and writing formulas for each compound type.
  • Complete any assigned reading or practice problems from chapter five.