Does anyone have a VERY SIMPLISTIC way of naming polyatomic ions?

Question

We are learning how to name binary and polyatomic ions (the scientific way) and Im having a HARD time figuring this out. All the "ous" "ic" "ide" "ite" "ate" "hydra" "hydro" all that crap. Anyone have a pretty easy way to remember how to do this and can explain it to me simply. Please let me know. Also Please leave your email address so I can ask more questions to the person who answers best... if you dont mind. Thanks

Answer 1

Fun Ways to Remember Here!

lower oxidation state= ous
higher= ic

So if we have two different ions of Chromium:
Cr+2 and Cr+3 ions
Cr+2 would be called chromous and
Cr+3 would be chromic

Easiest way to remember: lowerous down, higheric up ( :#

-ous and -ic endings are old-school chemistry, used mainly for naming acids. Here are the more modern ones you also wanted. I reccommend knowing all of the major Chloro ions first so that if you get this one down, you will definatly get the rest with no problem. I always write down a list of them before doing chemistry with the ployatomics.

Per_ate example=perchlorate ion ClO4-
It has the most O's so we can say "O4, out the door" as meaning the oldest child usually moves out of the house before the other kiddos.

_ate example= chlorate ion ClO3-
"We 3 ate on a date"

_ite example=chlorite ion ClO2-
"When is class?" "Tonight." (Tonight, 2 rite,...cheesy, but it works.

Hypo_rite example=hypochlorite ion ClO-
"A Hypo (hippo, ha ha!) is on my right!"

Chlorine compounds are always the hardest. I hope this helps. The only time we do not use _ate for O3 and _ite for O2 is for these:

Sulfate ion= SO4 2- Sulfate with a charge of -2 and
Sulfite ion= SO3 2- Sulfite with a charge of -2.

As long as you remember the chloro's and the 2 sulf's, you should ace your next chem assignment. I am not officially a chemist nor a professor, but I am working hard and studying hard to be both with a specialization in environmental science. I wish you the best!

Answer 2

No easy way...just have to memorize them.
If a binary compound..usually ends in IDE.
Ternary compounds take the name of the polyatomic ion. The one with the fewer oxygens is ITE...while the one with more oxygens is ATE.
If an element has more than 1 charge the traditional method has the lower charge ending in OUS and the Higher charge ending in IC.
If a polyatomic ion has 4 different oxygens ..ie ClO,ClO2,ClO3, ClO4... the highest one is PER...the lowest one is HYPO

Answer 3

Nice bod!

Answer 4

no easy way but i like your photo!!! have a nice day.