Question

Write the name for each of the following: a. \(\mathrm{MgCl}_{2}\) b. \(\mathrm{K}_{3} \mathrm{P}\) c. \(\mathrm{Li}_{2} \mathrm{~S}\) d. \(\mathrm{CsF}\) e. \(\mathrm{MgO}\) f. \(\mathrm{SrBr}_{2}\)

Short answer

a. magnesium chloride, b. potassium phosphide, c. lithium sulfide, d. cesium fluoride, e. magnesium oxide, f. strontium bromide

Step-by-step solution

Identifying type of compound

Determine whether the compound is ionic or covalent by noting that all given compounds are ionic since they are composed of metals and nonmetals.

- Naming Ionic Compounds (General Rule)

For ionic compounds, name the metal (cation) first and the nonmetal (anion) second, with the anion ending in '-ide.'

- Name \text{MgCl}_{2}\

The cation (Mg) is magnesium and the anion (Cl) is chlorine. The name is 'magnesium chloride.'

- Name \text{K}_{3} \text{P}\

The cation (K) is potassium and the anion (P) is phosphorus. The name is 'potassium phosphide.'

- Name \text{Li}_{2} \text{S}\

The cation (Li) is lithium and the anion (S) is sulfur. The name is 'lithium sulfide.'

- Name \text{CsF}\

The cation (Cs) is cesium and the anion (F) is fluorine. The name is 'cesium fluoride.'

- Name \text{MgO}\

The cation (Mg) is magnesium and the anion (O) is oxygen. The name is 'magnesium oxide.'

- Name \text{SrBr}_{2}\

The cation (Sr) is strontium and the anion (Br) is bromine. The name is 'strontium bromide.'

Key concepts

Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are composed of positive and negative ions. These ions are attracted to each other due to their opposite charges.
It’s a bit like magnets pulling together.
Generally, ionic compounds are formed between metals and nonmetals.
Metals lose electrons to become positively charged ions known as cations.
Nonmetals gain these electrons and become negatively charged ions called anions.
This transfer of electrons helps each element achieve a more stable electron arrangement.

• Example: Sodium (a metal) transfers one electron to Chlorine (a nonmetal), forming Sodium Chloride (NaCl).

So, remembering that ionic compounds are a mix of metals and nonmetals will help you identify them easily!

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the system we use to name chemical compounds. This ensures every compound has a unique and understandable name.
For ionic compounds, the process is pretty straightforward:

• Name the metal (cation) first.
• Name the nonmetal (anion) second, but change its ending to '-ide.'

This rule helps in achieving a clear and consistent naming convention.
If you remember these steps, you'll find it easier to name most ionic compounds without any confusion.

• Example: NaCl is named 'sodium chloride,' where 'sodium' is the metal (cation) and 'chloride' is the modified name for chlorine (anion).

Cation and Anion

Cation and anion are terms used to describe the charged particles in an ionic compound.
Cations are positively charged ions, which means they have more protons than electrons.
This happens when an atom loses one or more electrons.
Anions, on the other hand, are negatively charged ions.
They have more electrons than protons because they gain extra electrons.

• Example Cations: Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Lithium (Li)
• Example Anions: Chlorine (Cl), Sulfur (S), Fluorine (F)

By recognizing which is the cation and which is the anion, you'll find it easier to name ionic compounds following the rules of chemical nomenclature.