1
Analytical chemistry 3150/FAAI1, 2010/2011 FaF VFU
Jiří Pazourek
Nomenclature
It is crucial to avoid misunderstandings in our communication. Therefore, you have to understand the chemical
language – symbols and formulae are the starting point:
I. Symbols and Charges for Monoatomic Ions
A. Fixed Charge
Symbol Name Symbol Name
H
+
hydrogen ion H
hydride
ion
Li
+
lithium ion F
fluoride
ion
Na
+
sodium ion Cl
chloride
ion
K
+
potassium ion Br
bromide
ion
Ag
+
silver ion I
iodide
ion
Mg
2+
magnesium ion O
2oxide
ion
Ca
2+
calcium ion S
2sulfide
ion
Ba
2+
barium ion N
3nitride
ion
Zn
2+
zinc ion P
3phosphide
ion
Al
3+
aluminum ion
Bi
3+
bismuth ion
B. Variable Charge
Symbol Systematic Name Common Name Symbol Systematic Name Common Name
Cu
+
copper(I) ion cuprous ion Hg2
2+
mercury(I) ion mercurous ion
Cu
2+
copper(II) ion cupric ion Hg
2+
mercury(II) ion mercuric ion
Fe
2+
iron(II) ion ferrous ion Pb
2+
lead(II) ion plumbous ion
Fe
3+
iron(III) ion ferric ion Pb
4+
lead(IV) ion plumbic ion
Sn
2+
tin(II) ion stannous ion Co
2+
cobalt(II) ion cobaltous ion
Sn
4+
tin(IV) ion stannic ion Co
3+
cobalt(III) ion cobaltic ion
Cr
2+
chromium(II) ion chromous ion Ni
2+
nickel(II) ion nickelous ion
Cr
3+
chromium(III) ion chromic ion Ni
4+
nickel(IV) ion nickelic ion
Mn
2+
manganese(II) ion manganous ion Ti
3+
titanium(III) ion titanous ion
Mn
3+
manganese(III) ion manganic ion Ti
4+
titanium(IV) ion titanic ion
II. Symbols and Charges for Polyatomic Ions
Formula Name Formula Name
NO3
nitrate
ion ClO4
perchlorate
ion
NO2
nitrite
ion ClO3
chlorate
ion
CrO4
2chromate
ion ClO2
chlorite
ion
Cr2O7
2dichromate
ion ClO
-
hypochlorite
CN
cyanide
ion MnO4
permanganate
ion
OH
hydroxide
ion O2
2peroxide
ion
CO3
2carbonate
ion HCO3
hydrogen
carbonate ion (bicarbonate ion)
SO4
2sulfate
ion HSO4
hydrogen
sulfate ion (bisulfate ion)
SO3
2sulfite
ion HSO3
hydrogen
sulfite ion (bisulfite ion)
C2O4
2oxalate
ion HC2O4
hydrogen
oxalate ion (binoxalate ion)
PO4
3phosphate
ion HPO4
2hydrogen
phosphate ion
PO3
3phosphite
ion H2PO4
dihydrogen
phosphate ion
HS
hydrogen
sulfide ion (bisulfide ion)
CH3COO
acetate
ion
There is only one polyatomic cation, NH4
+
= ammonium ion