Question

Give the chemical names of each of the following familiar compounds: (a) \(\mathrm{NaCl}\) (table salt), (b) \(\mathrm{NaHCO}_{3}\) (baking soda), (c) NaOCl (in many bleaches),(d) \(\mathrm{NaOH}\) (caustic soda), (e) \(\left(\mathrm{NH}_{4}\right)_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}\) (smelling salts), (f) \(\mathrm{CaSO}_{4}\) (plaster of Paris).

Short answer

The chemical names of the given compounds are: (a) Sodium chloride (\(\mathrm{NaCl}\)) (b) Sodium hydrogen carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate (\(\mathrm{NaHCO}_3\)) (c) Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (d) Sodium hydroxide (\(\mathrm{NaOH}\)) (e) Ammonium carbonate \(\left(\mathrm{NH}_{4}\right)_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}\) (f) Calcium sulfate (\(\mathrm{CaSO}_{4}\))

Step-by-step solution

Naming Compound (a)

Compound (a) is given as \(\mathrm{NaCl}\), which consists of one sodium (Na) atom and one chlorine (Cl) atom. The chemical name of this compound is sodium chloride.

Naming Compound (b)

Compound (b) is given as \(\mathrm{NaHCO}_3\). This compound is composed of one sodium (Na) atom, one hydrogen (H) atom, one carbon (C) atom, and three oxygen (O) atoms. The chemical name of this compound is sodium hydrogen carbonate, also known as sodium bicarbonate.

Naming Compound (c)

Compound (c) is given as NaOCl. In this compound, there is one sodium (Na) atom, one oxygen (O) atom, and one chlorine (Cl) atom. The chemical name for this compound is sodium hypochlorite.

Naming Compound (d)

Compound (d) is given as \(\mathrm{NaOH}\), which consists of one sodium (Na) atom, one oxygen (O) atom, and one hydrogen (H) atom. The chemical name of this compound is sodium hydroxide.

Naming Compound (e)

Compound (e) is given as \(\left(\mathrm{NH}_{4}\right)_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}\). This compound contains two ammonium (NH\(_{4}\)) ions and one carbonate (CO\(_{3}\)) ion. The chemical name of this compound is ammonium carbonate.

Naming Compound (f)

Compound (f) is given as \(\mathrm{CaSO}_{4}\), which consists of one calcium (Ca) atom, one sulfur (S) atom, and four oxygen (O) atoms. The chemical name of this compound is calcium sulfate.

Key concepts

Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds are a type of chemical compound composed of positive and negative ions that are held together by strong electrostatic forces known as ionic bonds. These compounds generally form when metals lose electrons to become positively charged ions, and non-metals gain those electrons to become negatively charged ions.
For example, sodium chloride ( \(\mathrm{NaCl} \) ), a common ionic compound, consists of sodium ions (Na\(^+\)) and chloride ions (Cl\(^-\)), where sodium has donated an electron to chlorine.
Some characteristic properties of ionic compounds include:

• High melting and boiling points due to strong ionic bonds
• Usually crystalline solid structures at room temperature
• Conductivity as a solid may be poor, but in molten or dissolved form, they conduct electricity
• Generally, they are soluble in water and other polar solvents

Understanding these characteristics helps us predict how ionic compounds will behave in different situations.

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas are a shorthand way of conveying information about the specific elements in a compound and their respective ratios.
They are essential for understanding and communicating the composition of compounds in chemistry. For instance, the chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate ( \(\mathrm{NaHCO}_3 \) ) tells us it consists of sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms.
To interpret a chemical formula, consider the following components:

• Element symbols, such as Na for sodium, provide a quick identification of the elements present.
• Subscripts indicate the number of each type of atom in the compound. For instance, the "3" in \(\mathrm{NaHCO}_3 \) denotes three oxygen atoms.

Understanding chemical formulas helps in naming compounds and predicting their chemical reactions and properties, which is why this knowledge is foundational for anyone studying chemistry.

Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry focused on the properties and behaviors of inorganic compounds, which include most compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. This field is wide and includes many sub-disciplines, such as:

• Coordination chemistry, which involves studying the properties of coordination compounds formed between metals and ligands
• Solid-state chemistry, focusing on the structure, properties, and behavior of solid materials
• Descriptive inorganic chemistry, which aims to describe the behavior and characteristics of the various elements and their compounds

Inorganic chemistry plays a crucial role in developing materials used in various industries, from catalysts and pigments to medicines and Agriculture.
Familiarity with the principles of inorganic chemistry allows us to understand and synthesize new compounds with desired properties, making it a continually evolving and exciting field within the broader discipline of chemistry.