1.1 What is Chemistry?

http://www.ck12.org Chapter 7. Chemical Nomenclature

of an oxoacid is nitric acid (HNO 3 ), which can be thought of as a hydrogen ion (H+) combining with a nitrate ion
(NO 3 −). If we simply named this as an ionic compound, we could name the compound hydrogen nitrate. However,
because nitric acid exists as individual molecules and not an ionic structure, we use a different convention. To name
an oxoacid, look at the anion that will be left behind when all acidic hydrogens have been removed. If it ends in -ate,
replace that suffix with -ic acid. If it ends in -ite, replace that suffix with -ous acid. The followingTable7.10 lists
some common oxoacids and their formulas:

TABLE7.10: Common Oxoacids

Formula Name Anion Name

HClO 4 perchloricacid ClO 4 − perchlorate

HClO 3 chloricacid ClO 3 − chlorate

HClO 2 chlorousacid ClO 2 − chlorite

HClO hypochlorousacid ClO− hypochlorite

HNO 3 nitricacid NO 3 − nitrate

HNO 2 nitrousacid NO 2 − nitrite

H 2 SO 4 sulfuricacid SO 42 − sulfate

H 2 SO 3 sulfurousacid SO 32 − sulfite

H 2 CO 3 carbonicacid CO 32 − carbonate

H 3 PO 4 phosphoricacid PO 43 − phosphate

Example 7.3

Name the following compounds:

1. HIO 3


2. NaBrO 2


3. Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2


4. H 3 PO 3

Answer:

1. iodic acid


2. sodium bromite


3. calcium phosphate


4. phosphorous acid

Bases

Bases can also be defined in multiple ways, but for now, we will define abaseas a compound that produces the
hydroxide (OH−) ion when dissolved in water. Most of the common strong bases that you will need to deal with are
simply ionic compounds in which a metal cation is combined with the hydroxide anion. These bases are named in
the same way as any other ionic compound. For example, NaOH would be named sodium hydroxide, and Ca(OH) 2
is calcium hydroxide.

Some common bases are listed in theTable7.11.