SAT Subject Test Chemistry,10 edition

Using the above rules, then, one can determine the names of ionic compounds such as the
following:

NaClO 4 sodium  perchlorate

NaClO sodium    hypochlorite

NaNO 3 sodium   nitrate

KNO 2 potassium nitrite

Li 2 SO 4 lithium   sulfate

MgSO 3 magnesium    sulfite

Note that the name itself does not explicitly tell us how many ions of each there are; for example,
the names lithium sulfite and calcium fluoride do not tell us that there are two lithium ions and two
fluoride ions in the respective compound—we have to deduce that from knowing that the positive
and negative charges have to balance each other to give a neutral ionic compound. Also, note that
in a compound like lithium sulfate, both ionic and covalent bonds exist: The sulfur is bonded
covalently to the oxygen atoms, while the sulfate anion as a whole interacts with lithium ions to
form ionic bonds.

ClO 2 – Chlorite

ClO 3 – Chlorate

ClO 4 – Perchlorate

Polyatomic  anions  often   gain    one or  more    H+  ions    to  form    anions  of  lower   charge. The

resulting   ions    are named   by  adding  the word    hydrogen    or  dihydrogen  to  the front   of  the

anion’s name.   An  older   method  uses    the prefix  bi– to  indicate    the addition    of  a   single

hydrogen    ion.

HCO 3 – Hydrogen    carbonate   or  bicarbonate

HSO 4 – Hydrogen    sulfate or  bisulfate

H 2 PO 4 – Dihydrogen   phosphate

6.