Question

Name each of the following oxyacids: $$ \begin{array}{ll}{\text { a. HNO }_{3}} & {\text { c. } \mathrm{HClO}_{3}} \\\ {\text { b. } \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{3}} & {\text { d. HNO }_{2}}\end{array} $$

Short answer

a. Nitric acid (HNO₃)b. Sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃)c. Chloric acid (HClO₃)d. Nitrous acid (HNO₂)

Step-by-step solution

Identify the polyatomic ion

For each oxyacid, start by identifying the polyatomic ion it contains. The given oxyacids are HNO₃, H₂SO₃, HClO₃, and HNO₂.

Identify the base name of the acid

HNO₃ contains the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻), H₂SO₃ contains the sulfite ion (SO₃²⁻), HClO₃ contains the chlorate ion (ClO₃⁻), and HNO₂ contains the nitrite ion (NO₂⁻).

Apply naming rules for oxyacids

The names of oxyacids depend on the polyatomic ions: - If the ion ends in -ate, the acid name ends in -ic. For example, NO₃⁻ (nitrate) forms nitric acid (HNO₃), and ClO₃⁻ (chlorate) forms chloric acid (HClO₃).- If the ion ends in -ite, the acid name ends in -ous. For example, SO₃²⁻ (sulfite) forms sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃), and NO₂⁻ (nitrite) forms nitrous acid (HNO₂).

Write the names of the acids

Based on the identified polyatomic ions and the naming rules:- HNO₃ is named nitric acid.- H₂SO₃ is named sulfurous acid.- HClO₃ is named chloric acid.- HNO₂ is named nitrous acid.

Key concepts

Polyatomic Ions

A polyatomic ion is a charged particle which consists of two or more atoms covalently bonded together. In the context of oxyacids, these ions typically contain oxygen alongside another element. Some common polyatomic ions include nitrate (NO₃⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻). Polyatomic ions are crucial for naming acids because they determine the suffix used in the acid's name. For instance, nitrate (NO₃⁻) is involved in the naming of nitric acid (HNO₃) and nitrite (NO₂⁻) is involved in naming nitrous acid (HNO₂). Properly identifying the polyatomic ion in a compound helps accurately name the corresponding acid.

Acid Naming Rules

The process of naming acids often depends on the polyatomic ions they contain. Here's a simple set of rules to follow when naming oxyacids.
When the polyatomic ion ends in -ate:

• The acid name ends in -ic.
• For example, NO₃⁻ (nitrate) forms HNO₃, which is named nitric acid.
• Another example is ClO₃⁻ (chlorate), forming HClO₃, which is called chloric acid.

When the polyatomic ion ends in -ite:

• The acid name ends in -ous.
• For instance, SO₃²⁻ (sulfite) forms H₂SO₃, which is named sulfurous acid.
• Similarly, NO₂⁻ (nitrite) forms HNO₂, named nitrous acid.

By understanding these straightforward rules, you can accurately name various oxyacids by simply identifying the polyatomic ion present and applying the appropriate suffix.

Chemical Formulas

Chemical formulas represent the elements within a compound and the ratios in which they are combined. For example, a chemical formula like HNO₃ tells you that this compound consists of one hydrogen (H) atom, one nitrogen (N) atom, and three oxygen (O) atoms. This specific combination forms nitric acid. While it may look complex, learning to interpret these formulas is essential for understanding chemical composition.
Here’s a quick guide on how to read them:

• Elements are represented by their chemical symbols (H for hydrogen, O for oxygen, etc.).
• The subscript number (the little number to the right of a symbol) shows how many atoms of that element are in the molecule.
• If there's no subscript, it means there is only one atom of that element in the compound.

Having a solid grasp of chemical formulas is key to solving problems in chemistry, including naming compounds and understanding their properties.