6.3 Chemical Formula and Name of Binary Ionic Compounds

6.3 Chemical Formula and Name of Binary Ionic Compounds

Binary Ionic Compounds:

Composed of mono-atomic metal cations and mono-atomic non-metal anions.
Naming convention: Cation name first, followed by anion name.
Cation name: Same as the metal name.
Anion name: Root name of the element + suffix 'ide'.
Examples: Sodium chloride, magnesium oxide, aluminium nitride.

Steps to Write Chemical Formula of Binary Ionic Compounds:

1. Write symbols for cation first, then anion, including their charges.
2. Balance charges using smallest coefficients (compound must be neutral).
3. Write coefficients as subscripts for each ion.
4. Omit charge subscripts of 1 in the final formula.

Examples:

• Sodium chloride: Na⁺ Cl⁻ → NaCl
• Aluminium oxide: Al³⁺ O²⁻ → Al₂O₃

Common Cations and Anions:

Note: This section covers the basics of naming and writing formulas for binary ionic compounds. It emphasizes the importance of charge balancing and provides a list of common cations and anions for reference.