Nomenclature of Acids

The name of an acid is related to the name of the parent anion (the anion that combines with H+ to
form the acid). Acids formed from anions whose names end in -ide have the prefix hydro- and the
ending -ic.

F− Fluoride HF Hydrofluoric acid

Br− Bromide HBr Hydrobromic acid

Acids formed from oxyanions are called oxyacids. If the anion ends in -ite (less oxygen), then the acid
will end with -ous acid. If the anion ends in -ate (more oxygen), then the acid will end with -ic acid.
Prefixes in the names of the anions are retained. Some examples:

ClO− Hypochlorite HClO Hypochlorous acid

ClO 2 − Chlorite HClO 2 Chlorous    acid

ClO 3 − Chlorate HClO 3 Chloric acid

ClO 4 − Perchlorate HClO 4 Perchloric   acid

NO 2 − Nitrite HNO 2 Nitrous    acid

NO 3 − Nitrate HNO 3 Nitric acid