The Foundations of Chemistry

Key Terms 167

An older, commonly used method (which is not recommended by the IUPAC, but
which is widely used in commerce) involves the use of the prefix “bi-” attached to the
name of the anion to indicate the presence of an acidic hydrogen. According to this system,
NaHSO 4 is called sodium bisulfate and NaHCO 3 is called sodium bicarbonate.

Formula Name Formula Name

NaHSO 4 sodium hydrogen sulfate KH 2 PO 4 potassium dihydrogen phosphate

NaHSO 3 sodium hydrogen sulfite K 2 HPO 4 potassium hydrogen phosphate
NaHCO 3 sodium hydrogen carbonate

Problem-Solving Tip:Naming Ternary Acids and Their Anions

The following table might help you to remember the names of the ternary acids and

their ions. First learn the formulas of the acids mentioned earlier that end with “-ic acid.”

Then relate possible other acids to the following table. The stem (XXX) represents the

stem of the name, for example, “nitr,” “sulfur,” or “chlor.”

Ternary Acid Anion

perXXXicacid perXXXate

XXXicacid XXXate

XXXousacid XXXite

Decreasingoxidation numberof central atomhypoXXXousacid hypoXXXite Decreasing numberof oxygen atoms on central atom

(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
g
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
(^66)
g
Key Terms
Acid A substance that produces H
(aq) ions in aqueous solution.
Strong acids ionize completely or almost completely in dilute
aqueous solution. Weak acids ionize only slightly.
Acid-base reaction See Neutralization reaction.
Active metal A metal that readily loses electrons to form cations.
Activity series A listing of metals (and hydrogen) in order of
decreasing activity.
Alkali metals Elements of Group IA in the periodic table, except
hydrogen.
Alkaline earth metals Group IIA elements in the periodic table.
Atomic number The number of protons in the nucleus of an
atom of an element.
Base A substance that produces OH(aq) ions in aqueous solu-
tion. Strong bases are soluble in water and are completely
dissociated.Weak bases ionize only slightly.
Binary acid A binary compound in which H is bonded to a non-
metal in Group VIIA or a nonmetal other than oxygen in Group
VIA.
Binary compound A compound consisting of two elements; may
be ionic or molecular.
Chemical periodicity The variation in properties of elements
with their positions in the periodic table.
Combination reaction Reaction in which two substances (ele-
ments or compounds) combine to form one compound.
Decomposition reaction Reaction in which a compound
decomposes to form two or more products (elements, com-
pounds, or some combination of these).
Displacement reaction A reaction in which one element dis-
places another from a compound.
Disproportionation reaction A redox reaction in which the oxi-
dizing agent and the reducing agent are the same element.
Dissociation In aqueous solution, the process in which a solid
ionic compoundseparates into its ions.
Electrolyte A substance whose aqueous solutions conduct elec-
tricity.
Formula unit equation An equation for a chemical reaction in
which all formulas are written as complete formulas.
Gas-formation reaction A metathesis reaction in which an
insoluble or slightly soluble gas is formed as a product.
Group (family) The elements in a vertical column of the peri-
odic table.
Halogens Group VIIA elements in the periodic table.
Ionization In aqueous solution, the process in which a molecular
compoundseparates to form ions.