​Goal

Be able to write the name and chemical formula for fixed charge ionic compounds.

​Naming Binary Ionic Compounds with a Metal that Forms Only One Type of Cation

A binary ionic compound is a compound composed of a monatomic metal cation and a monatomic nonmetal anion. The metal cation is named first, followed by the nonmetal anion as illustrated in Figure 5.7.1 for the compound BaCl₂. The word ion is dropped from both parts.

Fixed Charge Ionic Compounds Nomenclature

Writing Name

1. ​Write the name of the cation (just name of the metal)

2. Write the name of the anion (the root of the element with an -ide ending

​One thing that you must remember about ionic compound nomenclature is that the number of electrons transfered from the metals must equal the number of electrons gained by the nonmetal. Read the following to learn how to make sure the number of electrons transfered is constant.

​An alternative way to writing a correct formula for an ionic compound is to use the crisscross method. In this method, the numerical value of each of the ion charges is crossed over to become the subscript of the other ion. Signs of the charges are dropped.

Fixed Charge Ionic Compounds Nomenclature