Covalent Compounds

Polar Covalent: The electrons are shared UNEQUALLY between the atoms

Non-Polar: The electrons are shared EQUALLY between the atoms

Rule 1: Write the name of the first nonmetal

Rule 2: The prefix mono- is never used on the first nonmetal.  Without a prefix it is assumed that there is only 1.

Example: CO2 is carbon dioxide, and NOT monocarbon dioxide.

Remove the -o or -a from a prefix before adding it to oxide. 

Example: CO is carbon monoxide, and NOT carbon monooxide.

Rule 3: Write the name of the second nonmetal changing its ending to -ide

Example: CO is carbon monoxide, and NOT carbon monoxygen.

Rule 1: Write the symbol of the first nonmetal and the subscript that matches the prefix

Rule 2: Write the symbol of the second nonmetal and the subscript that matches the prefix

Example: 

carbon monoxide is CO

dinitrogen tetrafluoride is N2F4